SHERIDAN, WYOMING – November 10, 2024 – Baxter International Inc., a global leader in healthcare, has provided an update on the recovery efforts at its North Cove, North Carolina manufacturing site following the impact of Hurricane Helene. The company is focused on supporting its employees, restoring operations, and ensuring ongoing product supply to patients.
Employee and Community Support
Baxter is committed to supporting its employees and the affected communities in North Carolina. All employees at the North Cove facility have been accounted for, and the company has provided various forms of assistance, including:
- A $4 million donation from the Baxter International Foundation to support employees and communities.
- An employee support center offering essential supplies, portable generators, and other resources.
- Clothing drives organized by Baxter colleagues across the U.S. to collect and deliver necessary items.
Facility and Infrastructure Restoration
The North Cove facility experienced significant damage due to unprecedented flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Baxter is working diligently to repair equipment and restore production lines in phases, with a focus on product quality and patient safety.
Key updates on facility restoration:
- A second IV solutions manufacturing line is expected to restart in the coming week.
- The two restarted lines represent approximately 50% of the site's total production capacity.
- Peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions and irrigation manufacturing lines are expected to restart by early December.
- All production lines are anticipated to restart by the end of the year.
- A second temporary bridge has been installed to facilitate increased truck and equipment access to the site.
Supply Continuity and Allocation
Baxter is actively working to ensure an ongoing supply of essential medical products to patients. The company has implemented several measures to mitigate the impact of the North Cove facility disruption:
- Activated nine manufacturing plants across its global network to increase available inventory.
- Secured temporary importation authorization for certain products to supplement U.S. supply.
- Received FDA authorization to extend the use dates of over 50 IV and irrigation products.
- Implemented allocation protocols for IV and PD solutions to prioritize patient care.
- Expanded support for new PD patients on a limited basis to address urgent medical needs.
- Partnered with the kidney community to enhance patient support and improve the ordering and delivery process for PD solutions.
Commitment to Patients and Healthcare Professionals
Baxter remains committed to supporting patients and healthcare professionals during this challenging time. The company is actively collaborating with healthcare providers, distributors, and regulatory agencies to ensure continued access to critical medical products.
Looking Ahead
Baxter is making significant progress in restoring operations at its North Cove facility and mitigating the impact of Hurricane Helene on product supply. The company's proactive measures, global network, and commitment to quality and patient safety are helping to ensure continued access to essential medical products for patients and healthcare providers.