U.S. drug manufacturer AbbVie is separating from parent Abbott Laboratories. We are assigning our 'A' corporate credit and 'A-1' short-term ratings to the company. AbbVie's defensible product positions and moderate leverage, just over 1.5x, are key strengths considered by the rating. The positive outlook reflects our expectation that credit measures will quickly strengthen, post separation. (Watch the related CreditMatters TV segment titled, "AbbVie And Abbott: What?s Behind Standard&Poor?s Ratings," dated Oct. 26, 2012.) On Oct. 26, 2012, Standard&Poor's Ratings Services assigned its 'A' long-term and 'A-1' short-term corporate credit ratings to AbbVie Inc., a North Chicgo, Ill.-based pharmaceutical manufacturer. The rating outlook is positive. The rating reflects our expectation that AbbVie's key product, arthritis treatment Humira,
