Abbott Exercises Its Option to Acquire Ibis Biosciences, a Subsidia...( Total acquisition price will be $215 ...)

Total acquisition price will be $215 million

Acquisition will expand Abbott's position in molecular diagnostics for infectious disease

CARLSBAD, Calif. and ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS) and Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today that Abbott has exercised its option to purchase the remaining equity ownership in Ibis Biosciences, Inc., an Isis subsidiary, for a closing purchase price of $175 million. In addition to the closing purchase price, Isis will receive earn out payments from Abbott tied to post-closing sales of Ibis systems, including instruments and assay kits.

Earlier this year, Abbott invested $40 million in Ibis in exchange for approximately 18.6% of Ibis' outstanding equity. This investment, along with the $175 million that would be due at closing, would result in a total acquisition price of $215 million plus earn out payments.

The closing of the acquisition of the remaining equity ownership in Ibis is subject to the satisfaction of the terms and conditions of a stock purchase agreement that has been executed by the parties, including obtaining clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, and is expected to occur in January, 2009.

"Abbott's confidence in Ibis is reflected in its decision to invest in Ibis' technology and to exercise its option to purchase Ibis. We have already presented development plans for the next-generation instrument that will facilitate our rapid growth into clinical diagnostics," said Michael Treble, President of Ibis. "This year we have made substantial progress by advancing our broad pathogen detection and characterization capab
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