Abbott Labs Defends Pricing Policy

Shares of Abbott Laboratories(ABT Quote) slipped Monday as the company prepared to defend its pricing policy on an HIV/AIDS drug before a federal agency health care panel.

In early afternoon trading, the stock was down 25 cents to $39.70.

Abbott is scheduled to appear Tuesday before a meeting convened by the National Institutes of Health to discuss a petition by a non-profit group, Essential Innovations, which says Abbott has raised the price of the drug Norvir beyond the reach of many consumers. ...