HEALTH

Strong Drug Sales Boost Abbott’s Third-Quarter Profit: Abbott Laboratories Inc. reported that its profit rose 11% in the third quarter, citing strong worldwide sales of pharmaceutical products. The medical supply company earned $351.3 million, or 43 cents per share, in the three months ended Sept. 30, up from $316.2 million, or 38 cents per share, for the same period last year. Sales rose 9% to $2.25 billion, from $2.06 billion. “We experienced good worldwide performance from each of our major businesses,” Chairman Duane Burnham said. “The strong sales gains this quarter, however, were driven chiefly by the worldwide growth of our pharmaceutical business.”