candidates. These

studies typically are part of a larger body of clinical data relating to such products or product candidates, and the discussion herein should be considered in the context of the larger body of data.

Financial Risk Management

The overall objective of our financial risk management program is to seek a reduction in the potential negative earnings effects from changes in foreign exchange and interest rates arising in our business activities. We manage these financial exposures through operational means and by using various financial instruments. These practices may change as economic conditions change.

Foreign Exchange Risk—A significant portion of our revenues and earnings is exposed to changes in foreign exchange rates. We seek to manage our foreign exchange risk in part through operational means, including managing same currency revenues in relation to same currency costs, and same currency assets in relation to same currency liabilities.

Foreign exchange risk is also managed through the use of foreign currency forward-exchange contracts. These contracts are used to offset the potential earnings effects from mostly intercompany short-term foreign currency assets and liabilities that arise from operations. Foreign currency swaps are used to offset the potential earnings effects from foreign currency debt. We also use foreign currency forward-exchange contracts and foreign currency swaps to hedge the potential earnings effects from short and long- term foreign currency investments, third-party loans and intercompany loans.

In addition, under certain market conditions, we protect against possible declines in the reported net assets of our Japanese yen, Swedish krona and certain euro functional-currency subsidiaries. In these cases, we use currency swaps or foreign currency debt.

Our financial instrument holdings at year-end were analyzed to determine their sensitivity to foreign exchange rate changes. The fair values of these instruments were determined as follows:

• foreign currency forward-exchange contracts and currency swaps—net present values

• foreign receivables, payables, debt and loans—changes in exchange rates

In this sensitivity analysis, we assumed that the change in one currency’s rate relative to the U.S. dollar would not have an effect on other currencies’ rates relative to the U.S. dollar. All other factors were held constant.

If there were an adverse change in foreign exchange rates of 10%, the expected effect on net income related to our financial instruments would be immaterial. For additional details, see Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 10D. Financial Instruments: Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities.

Interest Rate Risk—Our U.S. dollar interest-bearing investments, loans and borrowings are subject to interest rate risk. We are also subject to interest rate risk on euro debt, investments and currency swaps, Swedish krona currency swaps, and on Japanese yen short and long-term borrowings and currency swaps. We invest, loan and borrow primarily on a short-term or variable-rate basis. From time to time, depending on market conditions, we will fix interest rates