8-KRegulation FDOther EventsExhibits & Filings

ABBOTT LABORATORIES 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (Aug 20, 2026)

Filed August 20, 2026For Securities:ABT

Summary

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) has announced a significant development regarding its ongoing litigation concerning specialty formulas for preterm infants. On August 20, 2026, the company disclosed its agreement to settle the 'Gill' lawsuit and associated claims for approximately $670 million. This settlement resolves claims for the initial plaintiff and an additional 2,000 infants, opting to settle rather than pursue further appeals or pay the approximately $600 million judgment plus accrued interest from the 'Gill' case. While Abbott maintains confidence in the safety of its products, this settlement is viewed as a strategic move to address the litigation comprehensively and in the company's best long-term interest. The company also provided an update on the remaining litigation, stating that approximately 1,700 lawsuits are still pending, involving claims on behalf of around 12,700 infants. Abbott is actively working to resolve these remaining cases, some of which involve complex issues such as joint defendants, pre-diagnosis claims, or duplicated filings. This filing aims to inform investors about the resolution of a substantial portion of these legal matters and the current status of the remaining claims.

Key Highlights

  • 1Abbott has settled the 'Gill' lawsuit and claims for approximately 2,000 additional infants for an aggregate of $670 million.
  • 2The settlement was reached to avoid further appeals of a $495 million jury award in the 'Gill' case, which was affirmed by the Missouri Court of Appeals.
  • 3Abbott states this settlement is a compromise and not an admission of liability, reflecting confidence in product safety.
  • 4The company views this agreement as a constructive step towards substantially resolving the overall litigation.
  • 5Approximately 1,700 lawsuits remain pending, involving claims for around 12,700 infants.
  • 6Abbott is actively working to identify and eliminate problematic claims within the remaining litigation.
  • 7The settlement was announced via a press release furnished as part of this 8-K filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Abbott has agreed to pay an aggregate of approximately $670 million to resolve the 'Gill' lawsuit and claims on behalf of approximately 2,000 additional infants.

No, Abbott explicitly states that these agreements are a compromise of disputed claims and not in any way an admission of liability. The company remains confident in the safety of its specialty infant formulas.

Following this settlement, approximately 1,700 lawsuits are still pending in federal and state courts, involving claims on behalf of approximately 12,700 individual infants.

Abbott continues to work to identify and eliminate claims that are duplicated, involve issues like joint defendants, or lack a valid NEC diagnosis, indicating an ongoing effort to streamline and resolve the remaining litigation.