Abbott Premieres Autoimmune Exhibit

World Premiere of LEARN Exhibit Educates on Autoimmune Diseases with Tour Inside the Immune System

June 11, 2009 -- Copenhagen, Denmark — Today at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) congress, LEARN, a unique travel exhibit that provides a walking tour of the immune system and its response to autoimmune diseases, makes its world debut.

Article continues below...

Abbott (NYSE: ABT), the global health care company, several Danish patient associations and Hvidovre Hospital in Denmark have joined together in an effort to increase awareness of autoimmune diseases by creating the Living the Experience of Autoimmune ReactioNs (LEARN) exhibit. The LEARN international media event is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 2009, in Copenhagen's Town Square from 8:15 - 9:30 a.m. (CEST).

Autoimmune diseases cause the immune system to attack the body from within. Millions of people worldwide suffer from more than 80 autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or Crohn's disease.

"Imagine that your own immune system begins mistaking your healthy cells for invasive diseases and begins attacking these cells," said Jesper Eugen-Olsen, Ph.D., laboratory research director, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, and consultant for the LEARN exhibit. "Millions of people worldwide are living with one or more autoimmune diseases and this figure is growing. Intensive research in inflammation, genetics and autoimmune diseases has advanced our understanding of these diseases, which on the surface, appear unrelated, but in fact clinically, are related This research has helped develop specific recommendations for management."
Additional Information on LEARN

LEARN is a unique interactive exhibition that provides a walk-through experience in the immune system to learn about and bring attention to autoimmune diseases. LEARN has been developed with the sponsorship of Abbott, a leader in immunology research and development.

The exhibition engages the senses, making information on science available in a new and easily accessible way for the general public. Visitors can walk around inside a vein within the body, and see the body attack itself while learning more about autoimmune diseases.

An international press event about LEARN will take place on June 11, in Copenhagen Town Square from 8:15 - 9:30 a.m. (CEST). From there, the exhibit will travel to other global destinations to provide continued education on autoimmune diseases. For more information on LEARN, including pictures and video, please visit our Web Site.

"My grandmother suffered with rheumatoid arthritis and died young as result, when many of today's treatment choices were not available. The many stories of how this disease affected my grandmother and mother drove my passion to become an immunology researcher," said Jochen G. Salfeld, Ph.D., divisional vice president, Abbott Bioresearch Center. "I am proud that advancements in research today have made long-term management of many autoimmune diseases possible for patients."
About Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by an overactive immune system that attacks the body's own cells. They include more than 80 conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn's disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and others. In most cases, it is unclear how autoimmune diseases develop, but research has shown a genetic link that makes some people predisposed to developing one or more autoimmune diseases.
Abbott's Commitment to Immunology

The Abbott Bioresearch Center in Worcester, Massachusetts is the center of the company's efforts to discover and develop new medicines for autoimmune diseases.

Source: Abbott (NYSE: ABT)