Baxter International : Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall for One Lot of Nexterone Injection Due to Presence of Particulate Matter

DEERFIELD, Ill., November 14, 2017 - Baxter International Inc. announced today it is voluntarily recalling one lot of NEXTERONE (amiodarone HCl) 150 mg/100 mL Premixed Injection - distributed between 6/23/2017 and 10/2/2017 in the United States to wholesalers/distributors and healthcare facilities - due to the potential presence of particulate matter. The particulate matter may have entered the solution during the manufacturing process.

Intravenous administration of a solution containing sterile particulate matter may lead to adverse health consequences. The extent and severity of harm depends on the size, number and composition of the foreign material, and the patient's underlying medical condition. In the absence of in-line filtration, these particles may cause local vein irritation, inflammatory reaction, aggravation of preexisting infections, allergic reactions, phlebitis, pulmonary emboli, pulmonary granulomas, immune system dysfunction, pulmonary dysfunction, pulmonary infarction, and systemic embolization. To date, there have been no reports of adverse events associated with this issue.

NEXTERONE is a prescription antiarrhythmic agent indicated for initiation of treatment and prophylaxis of frequently recurring ventricular fibrillation and hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia in patients refractory to other therapy.

The particulate matter was identified by Baxter during a stability study, and was consistent with polyethylene, the primary constituent of the film and ports used to manufacture the bag in which NEXTERONE is packaged.

The recall affects the following lot:

Anyone with an existing inventory of the recalled lot should stop use and distribution and quarantine the product immediately. Inform health care professionals in your organization of this recall. If you have further distributed the recalled product, please notify any accounts or additional locations which may have received the recalled product from you. Further, please instruct entities that may have received the recalled product from you that if they redistributed the product, they should notify their accounts, locations or facilities of the recall to the hospital/retail user level. Recalled product should be returned to Baxter for credit by contacting Baxter Healthcare Center for Service at 888-229-0001, Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central Time.

Customers with questions regarding this recall can contact Baxter Corporate Product Surveillance at 800-437-5176, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time. Customers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to using this product.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

• Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
• Regular Mail or Fax: Download form www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.

  Baxter is voluntarily conducting this recall with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

  About Baxter

  Baxter provides a broad portfolio of essential renal and hospital products, including home, acute and in-center dialysis; sterile IV solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition; surgery products and anesthetics; and pharmacy automation, software and services. The company's global footprint and the critical nature of its products and services play a key role in expanding access to healthcare in emerging and developed countries. Baxter's employees worldwide are building upon the company's rich heritage of medical breakthroughs to advance the next generation of healthcare innovations that enable patient care.

  Baxter and NEXTERONE are registered trademarks of Baxter International Inc.