8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

January 16, 2006

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

ABBOTT LABORATORIES

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Illinois	1-2189	36-0698440
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

100 Abbott Park Road

Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-6400

(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (847) 937-6100

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

oSoliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 – Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

On January 20, 2006, Abbott Laboratories announced that W. James Farrell, chairman of Illinois Tool Works Inc., was named to the Abbott Board of Directors, effective January 16, 2006.  Mr. Farrell will serve on the Compensation and the Nominations and Governance Committees of the Board of Directors.  A copy of the press release announcing the election of Mr. Farrell is furnished as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 – Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)	Exhibits
	Exhibit No.	Exhibit
	99.1	Press Release, dated January 20, 2006

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	Abbott Laboratories
Date: January 20, 2006
	By:	/s/ Thomas C. Freyman
		Thomas C. Freyman
		Executive Vice President,
		Finance and Chief Financial
		Officer

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Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Exhibit
99.1	Press Release, dated January 20, 2006

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

News

Abbott Corporate Communications

Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-6096

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Media

Melissa Brotz

(847) 935-3456

Financial Community

John Thomas

(847) 938-2655

W. JAMES FARRELL NAMED TO ABBOTT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Jan. 20, 2006 – Abbott today announced that W. James Farrell, chairman of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW), was named to the Abbott Board of Directors.

“We welcome Mr. Farrell to the Abbott Board,” said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott.  “He is a proven leader with a wealth of global business and management experience, and we look forward to his valuable perspective.”

Farrell has been chairman of ITW, a Fortune 200 diversified manufacturing company with 650 decentralized business units in 45 countries, since 1996.  He also served as chief executive officer of the company from 1995-2005.

-more-

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.  The company employs 60,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott’s news releases and other information are available on the company’s Web site at www.abbott.com.

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