Baxter Healthcare's COLLEAGUE infusion pumps to be recalled

Baxter Healthcare Corporation today announced that it will recall COLLEAGUE infusion pumps from the U.S. market pursuant to an order under its existing June 2006 consent decree with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Baxter will work with the FDA to ensure that the recall process provides customers appropriate alternatives for supporting patients' needs.

As previously disclosed, Baxter entered into a consent decree with FDA under which the company has been pursuing remediation of the infusion pumps. The decree permits FDA to require the recall of the pumps, and FDA has communicated to the company that it will require such a recall, with the company providing monetary consideration or replacement pumps to customers on a timeline to be determined with FDA and based on medical need. Baxter intends to work with FDA to minimize disruption to healthcare facilities using COLLEAGUE pumps. Baxter anticipates that, among alternatives to be provided to customers, the company will offer to exchange Baxter's Sigma SPECTRUM infusion pumps for COLLEAGUE infusion pumps without charge to customers.

The consent decree permits Baxter to propose alternative actions to achieve the FDA's objectives under the decree, which the company intends to do. The final nature of the recall and offer to customers remain subject to that ongoing dialogue. Once final, Baxter will notify customers and make information available on www.baxter.com.

Notwithstanding that uncertainty, the company currently anticipates that it will record a pre-tax special charge of $400 to $600 million in the first quarter for the reasonably estimable cost of the recall. The company is not otherwise revising its earnings guidance for the year in connection with the recall.