QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

---

---

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

August 13, 2002
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

ABBOTT LABORATORIES
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

---

Illinois (State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-2189 (Commission File Number)

36-0698440 (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

---

---

---

---

Item 7.    Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)

Exhibits.

        These exhibits are furnished pursuant to Item 9 hereof and should not be deemed to be "filed" under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Item 9.    Regulation FD Disclosure

        On August 13, 2002, Miles D. White, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Abbott Laboratories ("Abbott"), and Thomas C. Freyman, Abbott's Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, each submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission his sworn statement pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Order No. 4-460, and made certifications pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The exhibits attached to this Form 8-K are hereby furnished pursuant to Item 9.

2

---

SIGNATURE

        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, thereunto duly authorized.

	ABBOTT LABORATORIES
	By:		/s/  THOMAS C. FREYMAN       Thomas C. Freyman Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Date: August 13, 2002

3

---

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.		Exhibit
99.1		Sworn statement of Chief Executive Officer, dated August 13, 2002, Pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Order No. 4-460.
99.2		Sworn statement of Chief Financial Officer, dated August 13, 2002, Pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Order No. 4-460.
99.3		Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
99.4		Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

4

---

QuickLinks

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure

SIGNATURE
EXHIBIT INDEX

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 99.1

Statement Under Oath of Principal Executive Officer
and Principal Financial Officer Regarding Facts and
Circumstances Relating to Exchange Act Filings

I, Miles D. White, state and attest that:

(1)

To the best of my knowledge, based upon a review of the covered reports of Abbott Laboratories, and, except as corrected or supplemented in a subsequent covered report:



•

no covered report contained an untrue statement of a material fact as of the end of the period covered by such report (or in the case of a report on Form 8-K or definitive proxy materials, as of the date on which it was filed); and



•

no covered report omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements in the covered report, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of the end of the period covered by such report (or in the case of a report on Form 8-K or definitive proxy materials, as of the date on which it was filed).




(2)

I have reviewed the contents of this statement with the Company's audit committee.



(3)

In this statement under oath, each of the following, if filed on or before the date of this statement, is a "covered report":



•

Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 of Abbott Laboratories;



•

all reports on Form 10-Q, all reports on Form 8-K and all definitive proxy materials of Abbott Laboratories filed with the Commission subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K identified above; and



•

any amendments to any of the foregoing.

/s/  MILES D. WHITE       Miles D. White Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer August 13, 2002		Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13th day of August, 2002
		/s/  DEBORAH A. YOUNG       Notary Public My Commission Expires: 6/22/06

---

QuickLinks

Exhibit 99.1

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 99.2

Statement Under Oath of Principal Executive Officer
and Principal Financial Officer Regarding Facts and
Circumstances Relating to Exchange Act Filings

I, Thomas C. Freyman, state and attest that:

(1)

To the best of my knowledge, based upon a review of the covered reports of Abbott Laboratories, and, except as corrected or supplemented in a subsequent covered report:



•

no covered report contained an untrue statement of a material fact as of the end of the period covered by such report (or in the case of a report on Form 8-K or definitive proxy materials, as of the date on which it was filed); and



•

no covered report omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements in the covered report, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading as of the end of the period covered by such report (or in the case of a report on Form 8-K or definitive proxy materials, as of the date on which it was filed).




(2)

I have reviewed the contents of this statement with the Company's audit committee.



(3)

In this statement under oath, each of the following, if filed on or before the date of this statement, is a "covered report":



•

Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 of Abbott Laboratories;



•

all reports on Form 10-Q, all reports on Form 8-K and all definitive proxy materials of Abbott Laboratories filed with the Commission subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K identified above; and



•

any amendments to any of the foregoing.

/s/  THOMAS C. FREYMAN       Thomas C. Freyman Senior Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer August 13, 2002		Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13th day of August, 2002
		/s/  DEBORAH A. YOUNG       Notary Public My Commission Expires: 6/22/06

---

QuickLinks

Exhibit 99.2

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 99.3

Certification Pursuant To
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
As Adopted Pursuant To
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

        In connection with the Quarterly Report of Abbott Laboratories (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Miles D. White, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and



(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/  MILES D. WHITE    
Miles D. White
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
August 13, 2002

---

QuickLinks

Exhibit 99.3

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 99.4

Certification Pursuant To
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
As Adopted Pursuant To
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

        In connection with the Quarterly Report of Abbott Laboratories (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Thomas C. Freyman, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and



(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/  THOMAS C. FREYMAN     
Thomas C. Freyman
Senior Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer
August 13, 2002

---

QuickLinks

Exhibit 99.4