ABBOTT FINALIZES GUIDANT VASCULAR ACQUISITION

Abbott has completed the acquisition of Guidant's vascular business. The acquisition was made in connection with Boston Scientific's acquisition of Guidant.

The acquisition has created one of the world's largest global vascular devices businesses offering a broad line of coronary and endovascular products and an R&D organization that is developing innovative technologies and devices such as the XIENCE V and ZoMaxx drug-eluting stents, said Miles White, Abbott's chairman and chief executive officer.

By adding Guidant's vascular business, Abbott has extended its line of products and technologies for interventional procedures, including coronary and endovascular stents, guide wires, catheters and balloons, and vessel closure devices, Abbott said. The combined company has also enhanced its intellectual property, including rapid exchange technology and stent designs.