Baxter Establishes Baxter Ventures to Invest in Early-Stage Therapies

Baxter Ventures to Commit Up to $200 Million

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) announced today that it has established Baxter Ventures to invest up to $200 million in equity in promising early-stage companies developing therapies that complement Baxter’s existing portfolio.

“Baxter’s mission is to apply innovative science to develop therapies and medical technologies that save and sustain patients’ lives,” said Robert L. Parkinson, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Baxter. “As the company’s internal capabilities have advanced our late-stage pipeline, we have the capacity to further accelerate the early-stage development of essential therapies.”

Baxter Ventures will invest globally and focus on innovative technologies with sustainable long-term growth. The company has continued to grow its internal investments in R&D and to pursue business development initiatives, collaborations and alliances as part of its long-term growth strategy.

Baxter Ventures will report into Norbert Riedel, PhD, Baxter’s Chief Scientific Officer.

“Baxter Ventures will allow us to provide companies with promising, early-stage technologies with the capital and expertise needed to drive successful innovation,” said Dr. Riedel. “Through this additional investment, Baxter will expand its internal pipeline with the goal of further strengthening the company’s history of innovative ‘firsts’ in medical therapies.”

Baxter Ventures can be contacted at [e-mail].

About Baxter

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX), through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide.

This release includes forward-looking statements concerning Baxter Ventures. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: continued strength in the company's financial position, including cash flows; the company’s ability to identify appropriate opportunities for investment; and other risks identified in the company's most recent filing on Form 10-K and other SEC filings, all of which are available on the company's website. The company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.