Abbott Laboratories discovers, develops, makes and sells a wide range of healthcare products. It has four reportable segments. Medical Devices covers heart devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators and heart-failure and vascular devices, plus continuous glucose monitors for people with diabetes and devices that treat chronic pain and movement disorders. Diagnostic Products sells lab instruments and tests, rapid tests, and point-of-care systems to hospitals, labs, blood banks and clinics. Nutritional Products sells infant formula (Similac), adult nutrition drinks (Ensure, Glucerna, Pedialyte) and tube-feeding products.
The fourth segment, Established Pharmaceutical Products, sells branded generic medicines, made worldwide and sold outside the United States in emerging markets. They treat stomach and liver conditions, women's health, heart and metabolic disease, pain and respiratory illness. Abbott sells to hospitals, doctors, wholesalers, pharmacies, retailers and government agencies, as well as directly to consumers. It names other healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, generic drug makers, consumer product makers and private label brands among its competitors, depending on the segment.
In November 2025 Abbott agreed to buy Exact Sciences, a deal that would take it into cancer diagnostics. It plans to fund the deal with approximately $20 billion of borrowings. The deal still needs Exact Sciences shareholder and regulatory approval.