Baxter to pay $4bn for dialysis firm

US drug maker Baxter has struck a deal to buy privately-owned Swedish firm Gambro, which makes dialysis products, for $4 billion (£2.5 billion)

‘Baxter has a legacy of innovation in dialysis, including the development of peritoneal dialysis for the treatment of end-stage kidney disease patients in the home,’ said Baxter chief executive Robert Parkinson. ‘This acquisition further strengthens our global dialysis offerings by extending our portfolio in the haemodialysis segment.’

Gambro, which is based in Lund, makes products for haemodialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy, generating annual sales of $1.6 billion in 2011.

According to Baxter, more than two million people are undergoing to some form of ongoing dialysis treatment, with dialysis treatment rates increasing more than 5% annually, in part as a result of rising rates of diabetes and hypertension. The company says that healthcare providers are seeking comprehensive dialysis treatment options that vary by region, in order to serve patients based on clinical need, existing infrastructure and reimbursement policy.