On top of the industry issues, Humira is Abbott's blockbuster drug, with estimated worldwide sales in excess of $5 billion in 2009 after $4.5 billion in 2008. That amount is roughly one-sixth of Abbott's total estimated revenues, which analysts believe will be slightly more than $30 billion, up 3.3% from the prior year. Abbott has three other drugs that generated more than $1 billion in sales in 2008, but none are expected to sell more than $1.5 billion in 2009.

The Humira issue is even more important down the road, because the high expected growth rate of Humira sales was supposed to offset declining revenues from a number of other drugs in Abbott's portfolio. Multiple analyst reports obtained by DailyFinance show Humira sales several years out to be above $7 billion, or about 12% annual growth through 2012. This would expand Humira sales as a percentage of Abbott Labs' pharmaceutical revenues from 27% in 2008 to an estimated 36% in 2011 and 2012. Abbott also offers diagnostic, nutritional, and vascular products.

As a larger company, the verdict is not as significant to Johnson & Johnson. Remicade sales of just under $4 billion are nowhere near as crucial, due to J&J's more than $60 billion in total revenues, and the cash award is roughly 1% of the company's market capitalization. Though this could provide a minor boost, it does not appear to be a huge catalyst to buy the stock on.

The final outcome of this legal battle has yet to be written, however, as Abbott Labs has said they will file an appeal.

James Cullen also edits and writes at CollegeAnalysts.com. He is the Vice-President of the Boston College Investment Club, which owns JNJ, but has no personal position in the stocks mentioned above.