Baxter to launch CAPD products overseas

Baxter India, a subsidiary of the $10 billion Baxter International Inc, is set to foray into the overseas market with its continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) therapy products by the end of the current financial year.

The Rs 250 crore company has its presence in the overseas market in over 25 countries with its IV fluids.

"We are in talks with various regulatory authorities of different countries for registration to sell our CAPD therapy products there," said Sanjiv Verma, general manager, south-east Asia, Baxter India.

The company being a lead supplier of CAPD therapy products targets to sell its peritoneal dialysis products in Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanamar and other African and Central Asian countries among others.

The company has set up its dialysis fluid plant at Manesar, near Delhi, at an investment of $50 million. The plant is designed to manufacture CAPD therapy systems and IV fluids in viaflex flexiable bags, using Baxter's patented Viaflex technology, the world's largest IV type.

The CAPD therapy segment is estimated to be around Rs 1,300 crore in India and is growing at a rate of 15 per cent and 20 per cent per annum and the company is growing in line with the market growth.

So far the company has invested over $100 million in India and eyes to enhance its investments in the near future. The company has recently completed its acquisition of the parenteral intravenous business of Wockhardt Lifesciences for $40 million.

This acquisition includes manufacturing assets and facilities in Waluj in Maharashtra and Alathur in Tamil Nadu, as well as sales and marketing team, which covers a wide spectrum of private hospitals and medical centres across the country.

With the acquisition of Wockhardt Lifesciences, Baxter has emerged as one of the leaders in the Rs 400 crore IV fluids market in India.

Baxter India at present has three manufacturing plants in the country and a country wide sales and marketing team.

The company, headquartered in Gurgaon, has offices across the country.

The company markets a variety of products in the country, including those used to treat patients with chronic kidney failure, blood collection and storage components, plasma proteins for treating immune deficiencies in blood, pain management products, and innovative infusion systems.

Baxter International Inc, a global medical products and services company is headquartered in Illonouis, US, and operates in 110 countries with 250 facilities worldwide and over 45,000 employees.