FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. & LAKE ZURICH, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) (NYSE: BDX) and Fresenius Kabi USA announced today that Fresenius Kabi has acquired the BD Rx business, which includes a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Wilson, N.C., and the BD Simplist™ line of seven drugs in ready-to-administer prefilled glass syringes.
Fresenius Kabi and BD have also signed a 10-year supply and distribution agreement under which Fresenius Kabi will supply BD with a portfolio of intravenous solutions. Both BD and Fresenius Kabi plan to offer a range of IV solutions in the U.S. beginning in 2016.
Financial and contractual terms of the transactions were not disclosed.
Prefilled injectable medicines are designed to help improve patient care and safety by decreasing the number of steps in the traditional vial and syringe injection sequence, reducing the potential risk of medication error.
“Ready-to-administer, prefilled syringes are a growing segment in health care due to increased focus on medication safety and labor-saving efficiency,” said John Ducker, president and CEO of Fresenius Kabi USA. “They are a natural complement to our portfolio, enabling us to offer customers more choices and a broader range of specialty injectable medicines in vials as well as ready-to-administer presentations.”
The North Carolina plant, which employs about 100 people, features advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging technologies, and was approved by the FDA in 2012. It currently produces seven drugs in ready-to-administer prefilled syringes and has capacity for future growth. Fresenius Kabi expects to invest in the facility over time, making it a global center of excellence for prefilled syringe production, the company said. The two companies will work together to assure a smooth transition for employees and customers.
“We believe Fresenius Kabi is a better owner for the BD Rx business, because it complements their existing capabilities in the injectable pharmaceutical industry,” said Tom Polen, president of BD’s Medical Segment. “In addition, we look forward to working with Fresenius Kabi to extend our medication management strategy through the addition of a portfolio of IV fluids, which will broaden our clinical and economical end-to-end solutions for our customers and their patients.”
About BD
BD is a leading medical technology company that partners with customers and stakeholders to address many of the world’s most pressing and evolving health needs. Our innovative solutions are focused on improving medication management and patient safety; supporting infection prevention practices; equipping surgical and interventional procedures; improving drug delivery; aiding anesthesiology and respiratory care; advancing cellular research and applications; enhancing the diagnosis of infectious diseases and cancers; and supporting the management of diabetes. We are more than 45,000 associates in 50 countries who strive to fulfill our purpose of “Helping all people live healthy lives” by advancing the quality, accessibility, safety and affordability of healthcare around the world. In 2015, BD welcomed CareFusion and its products into the BD family of solutions. For more information on BD, please visit www.bd.com.
About Fresenius Kabi
Fresenius Kabi (www.fresenius-kabi.us) is a global health care company that specializes in medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. The company’s products and services are used to help care for critically and chronically ill patients. The company’s U.S. headquarters is in Lake Zurich, Illinois. The company’s global headquarters is in Bad Homburg, Germany.
