Baxter Healthcare Corporation Study Verifies Inactivation Of Influenza H5N1 Virus During Manufacture Of Its Plasma-Derived Therapies
DEERFIELD, Ill., March 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Baxter Healthcare Corporation today announced the results of a study verifying the successful inactivation of H5N1 influenza (bird flu) virus during the processes routinely used in the production of its plasma-derived therapeutics.
Baxter initiated the verification study to address the rising public concern over the spread of the H5N1 virus outside of Asia, the recent demonstration that the H5N1 virus may occur in blood more widely than other strains of influenza, and the perceived threat of influenza virus transmission through the use of plasma derivatives.
The data were presented at this week's public "Blood Product Safety" conference, organized by Cambridge Healthtech Institute in Baltimore, Md. This presentation of the study coincides with a significantly increased incidence of the H5N1 virus in birds across Europe over the last few weeks.
Study Shows Influenza H5N1 Virus Readily Inactivated
H5N1 influenza is a member of the Orthomyxoviridae family of viruses and is similar in structure to previously identified influenza viruses. As this family of viruses is lipid-enveloped, it was expected that they would be readily inactivated through proven inactivation processes such as pasteurization, vapor heating, low pH and solvent detergent treatment methods.
"Based on available results from other lipid-enveloped viruses, we anticipated that H5N1 influenza would be inactivated during the processing of our plasma-derived therapeutics," said Thomas R. Kreil, Ph.D., director, global pathogen safety for Baxter's BioScience business. "However, we at Baxter acknowledge that users of plasma-derived therapies are especially concerned about any emerging virus, and thus decided to conduct these tests to reassure people who use plasma-derived therapies from Baxter."
This study confirmed that the virus was readily inactivated through one or more of the following methods: pasteurization, vapor heating, low pH and solvent detergent, treatment methods that Baxter employs in the processing of its commercially available plasma derivatives.
About the H5N1 Influenza Virus
Influenza viruses are known by the medical community from significant annual outbreaks, and several pandemic outbreaks involving millions of fatal cases that have occurred in the last century. Currently, the H5N1 influenza virus is spreading out of Asia. Upon infection of humans it has exhibited significant mortality, although it seems that the ability of human-to-human transmission has not yet been acquired by the H5N1 virus.
About Baxter
Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. . Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists healthcare professionals and their patients with the treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives. For more information, please visit http://www.baxter.com .
Baxter Healthcare CorporationCONTACT: Media Contacts, Deborah Spak, +1-847-948-2349, or, Amy Cynkar,+1-847-940-5166, or Investor Contacts, Mary Kay Ladone, +1-847-948-3371,or, Clare Sullivan, +1-847-948-3085, both of Baxter Healthcare Corporation
Web site: http://www.baxter.com/