ABBOTT PARK, Ill., August 6, 1999 - Abbott Laboratories announced today the availability of HextendŽ (6 percent hetastarch in lactated electrolyte injection) a new physiologically-balanced blood plasma volume expander for use in major surgeries. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Hextend earlier this year for the treatment of hypovolemia, a potentially life-threatening condition that can be caused by loss of blood volume during major surgery.

Plasma volume expanders like Hextend, are used to maintain circulatory system fluid volume and blood pressure after significant losses of blood that may occur during surgery or trauma. Current plasma volume expander treatments include general intravenous fluids, hetastarch and albumin. Hextend, however, is the only blood plasma volume expander that contains 6 percent hetastarch, multiple electrolytes (including calcium, potassium, and magnesium), glucose and lactate, which makes Hextend more physiologically similar to plasma.

"Hextend contains calcium levels similar to those normally found in blood, whereas other plasma volume expanders contain none," said T.J. Gan, M.B., F.R.C.A., associate professor of anesthesiology at Duke University Medical School. "Calcium levels are crucial to blood clotting and heart function."

A recent study showed that Hextend is a safe and effective alternative to the standard 6 percent hetastarch in 0.9 percent sodium chloride solution used for the treatment of hypovolemia.

Solutions containing hetastarch are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to hydroxyethyl starch, with bleeding disorders, or with congestive heart failure where volume overload is a potential problem. Solutions containing hetastarch should not be used in renal disease with oliguria or anuria not related to hypovolemia.

Hextend was discovered and developed by BioTime of Berkeley, Calif., which licensed the exclusive manufacturing and marketing rights to Abbott.

Abbott Laboratories is a global, diversified health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical, diagnostic, nutritional and hospital products. The company employs 56,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries. In 1998, the company's sales and net earnings were $12.5 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively, with diluted earnings per share of $1.51.