• 15 Apr 2024
• Admin
• News Article

Baxter Expands Pharma Portfolio with Launching Five Injectable Products in US

Overview

Baxter International Inc., a global leader in injectables, anaesthesia and drug compounding, announced the continued expansion of its pharmaceuticals portfolio with five injectable product launches in the US.

Words from Baxter

These launches demonstrate Baxter’s focus on differentiated products that address unmet patient needs in key therapeutic areas, including anti-infective and anti-hypotensive medications,” said Alok Sonig, executive vice president and group president, pharmaceuticals, at Baxter. “We are proud to offer important new options for our customers and look forward to continuing to bring new innovations to the market."

Product launches within Baxter’s Pharmaceuticals portfolio in the US include the following.

Norepinephrine Bitartrate

• Norepinephrine bitartrate in 5% dextrose injection in a new 16 mg/250 mL strength, which is indicated to raise blood pressure in adult patients with severe, acute hypotension. 
• Baxter offers the first and only FDA-approved ready-to-use norepinephrine in dextrose, and now provides norepinephrine in 4 mg/250 mL, 8 mg/250 mL and 16 mg/250 mL strengths.

Vasopressin

• Vasopressin in 0.9% sodium chloride injection, the first and only FDA-approved ready-to-use Vasopressin in a flexible container. 
• Vasopressin uses Baxter’s proprietary sterile, closed system container, which is collapsible and does not require a vented intravenous set. 
• Manufactured closed drug-delivery systems decrease the need for manual admixture and reduce the possibility of contamination. 
• Vasopressin is indicated to increase blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines. 
• Baxter offers vasopressin in 20 units/100 mL and 40 units/100 mL strengths.

Vancomycin Injection

• Vancomycin injection, USP in 5% dextrose in new 1.25 g/250 mL and 1.5 g/300 mL strengths.
• These launches are Baxter’s first frozen ready-to-use offerings in 250 mL and 300 mL volumes.
• Vancomycin is indicated for serious or severe infections caused by susceptible strains of methicillin-resistant (ß-lactam-resistant) staphylococci. 
• Baxter now offers vancomycin in 500 mg/100 mL, 750 mg/150 mL, 1 g/200 mL, 1.25 g/250 mL and 1.5 g/300 mL strengths.

Ropivacaine Hydrochloride Injection

• Ropivacaine hydrochloride injection, USP in a ready-to-use, single-dose infusion bag.
• Ropivacaine is indicated in adults to produce local or regional anaesthesia for surgery and for acute pain management. 
• Baxter offers ropivacaine in 200 mg/100 mL and 400 mg/200 mL strengths.

Regadenoson Injection

Regadenoson injection pre-filled syringe, a coronary vasodilator that is commonly used in pharmacologic stress testing. Baxter offers regadenoson in a 0.4 mg/5 mL strength.

Ready-to-use formats of standard concentrations of commonly prescribed drugs may offer operational efficiencies for healthcare providers. Compounding a drug for patient use is a multi-step, manual process that requires oversight by pharmacy staff. A ready-to-use product can simplify the preparation process and support patient safety by reducing the chance of contamination2 and avoiding potential errors that may occur when medications are compounded.

These newly launched products are now available for use in the US-

• Norepinephrine bitartrate in dextrose injection is indicated to raise blood pressure in adult patients with severe, acute hypotension.
• Vasopressin in 0.9% is indicated to increase blood pressure in adults with vasodilatory shock who remain hypotensive despite fluids and catecholamines.
• Vancomycin is indicated for the treatment of serious or severe infections caused by susceptible strains of methicillin-resistant (beta-lactam-resistant) staphylococci. It is indicated for penicillin-allergic patients, for patients who cannot receive or who have failed to respond to other drugs, and for infections caused by vancomycin-susceptible organisms that are resistant to other antimicrobial drugs.

Vancomycin effects- Vancomycin is effective in the treatment of: 

Infective endocarditis (staphylococcal endocarditis; endocarditis caused by Streptococcus viridans or S. bovis, alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside; endocarditis caused by enterococci (e.g., E. faecalis), only in combination with an aminoglycoside; diphtheroid endocarditis; early-onset prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by S. epidermidis or diphtheroids in combination with either rifampin, an aminoglycoside, or both); Septicemia; Skin and skin structure infections; Bone infections; Lower respiratory tract infections.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of vancomycin and other antibacterial drugs, vancomycin should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria.

Ropivacaine hydrochloride injection is an amide local anaesthetic indicated in adults for the production of local or regional anaesthesia for surgery and for acute pain management.

Surgical Anaesthesia: 

• Epidural block for surgery including cesarean section; major nerve block; local infiltration.
• Acute pain management: epidural continuous infusion or intermittent bolus, e.g., postoperative or labor; local infiltration.

Regadenoson Injection

Regadenoson injection is a pharmacologic stress agent indicated for radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in patients unable to undergo adequate exercise stress.