Jun. 1, 2011 (Business Wire) — linkedFA, the first social networking web site that enables financial professionals to leverage social media compliantly by addressing industry rules and regulations, announces a strategic content relationship with Thomson Reuters Corporation (NYSE: TRI ). per the agreement, LinkedFA (linkedFA.com) will offer Thomson Reuters’ premium financial news and analysis content via linkedFA’s social media network. The relationship between Thomson Reuters and linkedFA embodies a powerful trend in social media, giving financial professionals access to the best tools and information for their industry in a collaborative social media platform. this information is available to share within their networks.

linkedFA will integrate Thomson Reuters’ content as a premium service, enabling financial professionals to easily find and share industry news, market data, market analysis, and more within their network via best-in-breed social media tools. this integration will mark not only the largest foray of premium financial content offered via social media, but also the first time members can digitally communicate and collaborate on the content all from one location.

linkedFA CEO, Jason Bishara states: “We are excited to offer Thomson Reuters’ financial data and content within linkedFA. once released, members will have access to industry-leading financial content and analysis with the ability to compliantly share this content with their networks on linkedFA, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn simultaneously. this relationship will prove to be an exceptionally powerful tool for independent advisors and investors who previously could not gain access to Thomson Reuters’ content. this is just our first step in the direction of integrating content, tools and resources to bring additional value to our members.”

for linkedFADowney McKay MarketingHelen Downey/Michelle McKay, +

10th may 2011, 11:21 am by Olivia D'Orazio

Sanofi-Aventis (EPA:SAN) (NYSE:SNY) said Tuesday that its vaccine division, Sanofi Pasteur, has received a licensing approval from the US FDA for its new flu virus vaccine that is injected with a short, thin needle in through the mid-level layer of the skin, instead of the muscle, of those being vaccinated.

The vaccine, Fluzone Intradermal, will be used for immunization against the influenza virus in adults aged 18 to 64, and represents the first flu vaccine licensed in the US that uses a small needle for a skin injection.

“The microinjection delivery system utilized in Fluzone Intradermal vaccine provides reliable and easy delivery of the vaccine into the dermal layer of the skin, an attractive site for immunization,” said president and CEO of Sanofi Pasteur, Olivier Charmeil.

The influenza virus tends to become prevalent during the fall-winter season, with widespread outbreaks across the globe. Symptoms include fever, cough and general malaise. Complications, such as pneumonia, can occur, especially in older adults or in people who suffer from a chronic disease.

Vaccination, usually by a needle injection into the muscle, often protects against the virus. A typical needle measures about 1.5 inches in length, whereas the Fluzone Intradermal vaccine is administered into the dermal layer of the skin, with a needle that is 0.06 inches long.

This method of vaccine administration, called microinjection, is less intrusive and is easier to administer. The Fluzone Intradermal vaccine includes a pre-filled syringe that deposits influenza antibodies in the mid-level of the skin, an area that contains high levels of dendritic cells, which are strongly involved in fighting off an infection.

Sanofi Pasteur has previously licensed intradermal microinjections in over forty countries, including Canada, Europe and Australia, marketed as Intanza or IDflu.

Fluzone Intradermal is expected to be available to US healthcare providers for the 2011 – 2012 flu season.

LinkedIn, the social-networking website for professionals, said it reached 100 million members Tuesday, as it gears up for its much-anticipated IPO.the company filed for its IPO with the SEC on January 27th, and it usually takes about 2 months for the SEC to complete its review.the website was founded in May of 2003, and had 71.5 million unique visitors in February 2011, up 55% from February 2010, according to comScore.over half of LinkedIn’s users, 56 million, are based outside the United States. last year, membership grew 428% in Brazil, 178% in Mexico, 76% in India, and 72% in France, highlighting its truly global appeal.LinkedIn hired Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) and J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) to lead the offering, according to the SEC filing.

“LinkedIn Reaches 100 Million Members, IPO Imminent” is categorized as “business”. This video was licensed from Grab Networks. for additional video content, click the “video” tab at the top of this page.

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Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today it enrolled the first patient in the CALM Study, a clinical trial with HUMIRA(R) (adalimumab), to determine if tailoring therapy to more stringent measures of disease activity in patients with early moderate to severe Crohn’s disease will improve mucosal healing. the study will assess patients monitored with those stringent criteria over 56 weeks compared to patients monitored with less stringent and more commonly used clinical disease management criteria. this international study is enrolling now in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK with the goal to research the response rates of approximately 240 people diagnosed with Crohn’s disease for less than four years who have had no more than one course of corticosteroids and are naive to immunosuppressive and biologic therapy.

“We know Crohn’s disease can be difficult to treat and that early intervention may yield improved long-term outcomes,” said Professor Jean-Frederic Colombel, head of Gastroenterology, University of Lille, France. “There are a number of objective measures by which we can quantify a therapy’s effect. Assessing these important objective measurement tools may provide valuable information for physicians managing this disease.”

the CALM study will evaluate tight control of disease activity, defined as using stringent criteria based on the Crohn’s disease activity index (CDAI), high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels, the fecal Calprotectin test and the need for continued corticosteroid use, versus disease management based only on CDAI and corticosteroid use.

“The tight-control approach may offer a benchmark for drug therapies relative to symptomatic treatment,” said Eugene Sun, M.D., vice president, Global Pharmaceutical Clinical Development, Abbott. “These important measures may provide strides toward understanding and defining objective disease management tools for Crohn’s patients.”

about the CALM Study

the CALM Study, an Open-Label, Multi-Center, Efficacy and Safety Study to Evaluate two Treatment Algorithms in Subjects with Moderate to Severe Crohn’s Disease, is a 56-week, multicenter, randomized, safety and efficacy trial of prednisone, HUMIRA, and azathioprine using tight control versus clinically driven management of Crohn’s disease to evaluate mucosal healing in subjects with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease, who are naive to immunosuppressive and biologic therapy. Males and females ages 18 to 75 will be enrolled at approximately 60 international study sites across Europe and Canada. Eligible patients will have been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease using imaging technology or endoscopy not more than four years prior to enrolling. They will have some degree of inflammation measured by high sensitivity C-reactive protein level and fecal Calprotectin test. Additionally, participants should not have any previous or current use of biologics for Crohn’s disease and should not have taken more than one previous course of a corticosteroid.

about Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is a serious chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. It most commonly affects the end of the small intestine or the ileum, however, it may involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms can range from diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever to rectal bleeding.

important Treatment Considerations

Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information.

HUMIRA is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease (CD) in adults who have not responded well to conventional treatments.

Serious infections, including sepsis, due to bacterial, mycobacterial, invasive fungal, parasitic, or viral pathogens, rare cases of tuberculosis (TB), and other opportunistic infections, including fatalities, have been reported with the use of TNF-antagonists, including HUMIRA. many of the serious infections have occurred in patients on concomitant immunosuppressive therapy that, in addition to their underlying disease could predispose them to infections. Patients must be monitored closely for infections, including tuberculosis, before, during and after treatment with HUMIRA. Treatment should not be initiated in patients with active infections until infections are controlled. In patients who have been exposed to tuberculosis and patients who have travelled in areas of high risk of tuberculosis or endemic mycoses, such as histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, or blastomycosis, the risk and benefits of treatment with HUMIRA should be considered prior to initiating therapy. HUMIRA should not be used by patients with active TB or other severe infections such as sepsis and opportunistic infections. if latent tuberculosis is diagnosed, appropriate treatment for latent tuberculosis must be initiated with anti-tuberculosis prophylaxis therapy before starting treatment with HUMIRA, and in accordance with local recommendations. Patients who develop new infections while using HUMIRA should be monitored closely and undergo a complete diagnostic evaluation. HUMIRA should be discontinued if a patient develops a new serious infection or sepsis, until the infection is controlled. Physicians should exercise caution when considering use of HUMIRA in patients with a history of recurring infection or with underlying conditions that may predispose patients to infections.

TNF-blocking agents have been associated with reactivation of hepatitis B (HBV) in patients who are chronic carriers of the virus. Some cases have been fatal. Patients at risk for HBV infection should be evaluated for prior evidence of HBV infection before initiating HUMIRA. Carriers of HBV who are treated with HUMIRA should be closely monitored for active HBV infection throughout therapy and for several months following termination of therapy.

TNF-antagonists, including HUMIRA, have been associated in rare cases with demyelinating disease including multiple sclerosis. Serious allergic reactions have been reported very rarely following HUMIRA administration.

More cases of malignancies including lymphoma have been observed among patients receiving a TNF-antagonist compared with control patients in clinical trials. However, the occurrence was rare. Furthermore, there is an increased background lymphoma risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients with long-standing, highly active, inflammatory disease, which complicates the risk estimation. with the current knowledge, a possible risk for the development of lymphomas or other malignancies in patients treated with a TNF-antagonist cannot be excluded.

Rare postmarketing cases of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, a disease with a very aggressive and usually fatal outcome, have been identified in patients treated with adalimumab. Some of these cases occurred in young adult patients on concomitant treatment with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine used for Crohn’s disease. a risk for the development of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma in patients treated with HUMIRA cannot be excluded.

all patients, and in particular patients with a medical history of extensive immunosuppressant therapy or psoriasis patients with a history of PUVA treatment, should be examined for the presence of non-melanoma skin cancer prior to and during treatment with HUMIRA.

Rare reports of pancytopenia including aplastic anaemia have been reported with TNF-blocking agents. Adverse events of the haematologic system, including medically significant cytopenia have been infrequently reported with HUMIRA.

Patients on HUMIRA may receive concurrent vaccinations, except for live vaccines. Juvenile patients should be brought up to date with all immunisations prior to initiating HUMIRA therapy, if possible.

In clinical studies with another TNF-antagonist, a higher rate of serious congestive heart failure (CHF) related adverse events including worsening CHF and new onset CHF have been reported. Cases of worsening CHF have also been reported in patients receiving HUMIRA. Physicians should exercise caution when using HUMIRA in patients with heart failure and monitor them carefully.

the combination of HUMIRA and anakinra or HUMIRA and abatacept is not recommended.

Adverse Events at least possibly causally related to HUMIRA include very common events (reported by >1/10 patients) respiratory tract infections (including lower and upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, sinusitis, pharyngitis, nasopharyngitis, pneumonia herpes viral), leucopaenia (including neutropaenia, agranulocytosis), anaemia, lipids increased, headache, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, liver enzymes elevated, rash (including exfoliative rash), musculoskeletal pain, injection site reaction (including injection site erythema); common events (reported by >1/100 but < 1/10 patients): systemic infections (including sepsis, candidiasis, influenza), intestinal infections (including gastroenteritis viral), skin and soft tissue infections (including paronychia, cellulitis, impetigo, necrotising fasciitis, herpes zoster), ear infections, oral infections (including herpes simplex, oral herpes, tooth infections), reproductive tract infections (including vulvovaginal mycotic infection), urinary tract infections (including pyelonephritis), fungal infections, benign neoplasm, skin cancer excluding melanoma (including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma), thrombocytopaenia, leucocytosis, hypersensitivity, allergies (including seasonal allergy), hypokalaemia, uric acid increased, blood sodium abnormal, hypocalcaemia, hyperglycemia, hypophosphotemia, blood potassium increased, mood alterations (including depression), anxiety, insomnia, paraesthesias (including hypoaesthesia), migraine, sciatica, visual impairment, conjunctivitis, vertigo, tachycardia, hypertension, flushing, haematoma, cough, asthma, dyspnoea, GI haemorrhage, dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, sicca syndrome, pruritus, urticaria, bruising (including purpura), dermatitis (including eczema), onychoclasis, hyperhydrosis, muscle spasms (including blood creatine phosphokinase increased), haematuria, renal impairment, chest pain, oedema, coagulation and bleeding disorders (including activated partial thromboplastin time prolonged), autoantibody test positive (including double stranded DNA antibody), blood lactate dehydrogenase increased, impaired healing.

Adverse drug reactions reported post-marketing include hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, anaphylaxis, demyelinating disorders (including optic neuritis, Guillain-Barre syndrome), cerebrovascular accident, intestinal perforation, reactivation of hepatitis B, cutaneous vasculitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, angioedema, new onset or worsening of psoriasis (including palmoplantar pustular psoriasis), lupus-like syndrome, and myocardial infarction.

about Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. the company employs nearly 90,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott’s news releases and other information are available on the company’s website at abbott.com.

A new scientific article has been published demonstrating the profound impact of spasticity on patients with multiple sclerosis and the benefits and underutilization of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy from Medtronic, inc. (NYSE: MDT) as a treatment option for these patients. the paper, published this week as an OnlineFirst article in Multiple Sclerosis Journal,recommends physician evaluation of ITB therapy as a treatment option for patients at all clinical stages of MS who are intolerant of or unresponsive to oral spasticity therapies.

“Severe spasticity is a debilitating condition that can have a negative impact on quality of life of patients with MS. while oral medications work to treat spasticity in some individuals, I see patients every day who can’t tolerate the side effects of large doses of medication necessary to treat the most severe cases,” said Mary Hughes, M.D., one of the article’s authors and chair, Division of Neurology, University Medical Group, Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center in Greenville, S.C. “The strong collection of clinical results on the use of ITB therapy in MS patients points to a clear need for physicians to help MS patients control their spasticity and restore quality of life with options like ITB therapy, which is safe and effective in carefully selected patients.”

The expert panel of authors, including leading MS clinicians from the United States and Europe, combined has more than 100 years of experience in MS management and has treated more than 1,500 MS patients worldwide. the article includes a review of literature on ITB therapy for spasticity in MS and provides expert opinion of the panel regarding patient selection and management of ITB therapy in MS patients. Medtronic sponsored the panel’s meeting and paper development.

According to survey results within the research summary, 84 percent of patients with MS reported at least some symptoms of spasticity, with 30 percent reporting moderate to severe symptoms. Of the 13 percent of MS patients who may be candidates for ITB therapy, only 1 percent of patients stated they were receiving the therapy. however, current data indicate that ITB therapy effectively and significantly reduces severe spasticity in ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients with MS.

The expert panel noted that the main barrier to the use of ITB therapy is that many physicians do not present ITB as a therapeutic option that is safe, effective and well-tolerated. this often occurs due to a lack of physician understanding of quality of life issues caused by spasticity, potential ITB benefits and appropriate patient selection, as well as their focus on disease-modifying therapies rather than symptom control.

“This article is a very powerful analysis of the need for greater consideration of ITB therapy by clinicians who manage MS,” said Tom Tefft, senior vice president and president of the Neuromodulation business at Medtronic. “We are hopeful that this paper will encourage more physicians to offer the therapy to appropriate patients.”

About Multiple Sclerosis and Spasticity

Approximately 300,000 Americans have MS, a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms may include abnormal fatigue, impaired vision, loss of balance and muscle coordination, slurred speech, tremors, spasticity, bladder and bowel problems, difficulty walking, short-term memory loss, mood swings, and, in severe cases, partial or complete paralysis. Spasticity can occur when the part of the brain that controls voluntary movements is damaged or injured and results in tight, stiff muscles. In addition to being one possible symptom of MS, spasticity also can be a symptom of cerebral palsy, brain injury, spinal cord injury or stroke. for some people, the condition is so severe that it is impossible to voluntarily relax muscles.

About ITB Therapy

Medtronic ITB Therapy using the SynchroMed® II pump is the first and only fully programmable implantable drug pump available in the United States to treat severe spasticity. first approved in the United States in 1992, ITB is a complete drug delivery solution to optimize spasticity treatment and maximize function. the therapy delivers a baclofen injection directly to the intrathecal space where fluid flows around the spinal cord in patients with severe spasticity. more information is available at medtronic.com/your-health/severe-spasticity/about/index.htm

About Medtronic

Medtronic, inc. (medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

Business Wirebusinesswire.com/

Last updated on: 05/02/2011 08:00:02

Results demonstrate FFR-guided treatment offers cost-saving benefits to the U.S. healthcare system

ST. PAUL, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, today announced the publication of results from an economic evaluation of the landmark FAME (Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) vs. Angiography in Multivessel Evaluation) trial, which confirmed FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease improves patient outcomes and offers cost-saving benefits to the U.S. healthcare system.

“This study also reflects the benefits this technology has on patient care and the advantages it offers to the healthcare system as a whole.”

the one-year results, published in Circulation, demonstrate that treatment guided by St. Jude Medical’s FFR measurement system was cost-saving, finding mean overall costs associated with the FFR-guided group significantly lower than the group guided by angiography alone. mean overall costs for FFR-guided treatment was $14,300, compared to $16,700 for angiography-guided treatment, with cost savings occurring during both the initial procedure, primarily due to a decrease in unnecessary drug-eluting stent use, and during follow-up as a result of a decrease in re-hospitalization and fewer major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Results further indicated that MACE, such as death, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and repeat revascularization, occurred in 13.2 percent of patients who received FFR-guided treatment, compared to 18.3 percent of patients who received angiography-guided treatment.

“Economic evaluation of the FAME study reveals that FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with multivessel coronary disease is one of those rare situations in which a new technology not only improves outcomes but also conserves resources,” said William F. Fearon, M.D., associate professor, Stanford University Medical Center. “This study also reflects the benefits this technology has on patient care and the advantages it offers to the healthcare system as a whole.”

Current data show that physiological assessment using FFR prior to placement of coronary stents helps physicians to better optimize clinical outcomes by determining which specific lesion or lesions are responsible for a patient’s ischemia (a deficiency of blood supply to the heart caused by blood restriction). in addition, data have demonstrated that FFR measurements can be useful as an alternative to noninvasive functional testing, and to help assess an abnormal narrowing in a coronary artery for patients with anginal symptoms such as chest pain.

“St. Jude Medical believes FFR provides tremendous value to patients, physicians and hospitals,” said Frank J. Callaghan, president of the St. Jude Medical Cardiovascular Division. “Not only is it clinically effective, but it is clear that it is a cost-effective treatment option for hospitals. we will continue to provide physicians with data that further demonstrate the significant benefits this technology offers for patients and healthcare systems around the world.”

the FAME study is a randomized, prospective, multi-center trial which enrolled 1,005 patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. the study compared outcomes for patients whose treatment was guided by FFR to those whose treatment was guided only by angiography. the 12-month results, published in the January 15, 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated that instances of MACE were reduced by 28 percent for patients whose treatment was guided by FFR rather than by standard angiography alone. Based on its large size, multicenter nature, and randomized prospective design, the economic evaluation of the FAME trial further strengthens the evidence supporting the health economic advantage to performing FFR-guided percutaneous coronary intervention.

Two-year results, presented as a late-breaking trial during the 2009 Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) Conference, demonstrated that patients who received FFR-guided treatment continued to experience improved outcomes over time, including a 34 percent risk reduction of death or heart attack.

the St. Jude Medical FFR measurement system portfolio includes both the PressureWire™ Certus and the PressureWire Aeris™. the PressureWire Certus was the only FFR guidewire used in the FAME trial; the PressureWire Aeris is the industry’s only wireless technology available, which requires no additional equipment or cabling in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

About Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR)

Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) is an index determining the functional severity of narrowings in the coronary arteries as measured by PressureWire Certus and PressureWire Aeris. FFR specifically identifies which coronary narrowings are responsible for significantly obstructing the flow of blood to a patients’ heart muscle (called ischemia), and it is used by the interventional cardiologist to direct coronary interventions and assess results for improved treatment outcomes.

About St. Jude Medical

St. Jude Medical develops medical technology and services that focus on putting more control into the hands of those who treat cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients worldwide. the company is dedicated to advancing the practice of medicine by reducing risk wherever possible and contributing to successful outcomes for every patient. St. Jude Medical is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn. and has four major focus areas that include: cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular and neuromodulation. for more information, please visit sjm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include the expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including potential clinical successes, anticipated regulatory approvals and future product launches, and projected revenues, margins, earnings and market shares. the statements made by the Company are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. these risks and uncertainties include market conditions and other factors beyond the Company’s control and the risk factors and other cautionary statements described in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including those described in the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements sections of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 2, 2010. the Company does not intend to update these statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstance.

Zack, On Tuesday August 24, 2010, 8:42 am EDT

Medical product giant Baxter International inc. (NYSE: BAX – News) has entered into a definitive distribution agreement with Israel-based biopharmaceuticals company Kamada ltd. under the deal, it has secured exclusive marketing rights to Kamada’s GLASSIA Alpha 1-Proteinase inhibitor in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. .

GLASSIA, the first and only liquid, ready-to-use Alpha1-Proteinase inhibitor, is indicated for the treatment of emphysema (a lung disease) due to Alpha 1 deficiency, also known as Alpha1-Antitrypsin deficiency (AATD). the drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this indication in July 2010. Kamada expects GLASSIA to generate annual sales of roughly $40 million.

AATD is an under-diagnosed genetic disorder caused by defective production of Alpha 1-Antitrypsin (A1AT), a naturally occurring protein, leading to reduced A1AT activity in the blood and lungs. Roughly 100,000 people are estimated to have inherited AATD in the U.S. less than 10% of this population has been adequately diagnosed. Individuals with AATD may eventually develop emphysema, and sometimes, liver failure. Common symptoms of AATD are shortage of breath and cough.

The distribution deal calls for an upfront cash payment of $20 million by Baxter to Kamada and includes a provision, which prevents the latter from negotiating or agreeing for GLASSIA in other markets for an agreed period of time. Baxter has also been granted the rights to produce the drug and secure associated regulatory approvals. Moreover, the company may make additional milestone payments of up to $25 million on achievement of specific commercial and production-related landmarks and royalties (undisclosed) on future product sales.

Baxter is expected to launch GLASSIA in the U.S. during the fourth quarter of 2010. the company will pursue to obtain distribution licenses for the drug in the other countries in which it has secured commercial rights. the deal underscores Baxter’s commitment to the awareness and early diagnosis of AATD. the company sponsors the AlphaTest diagnostic kit and so far has assisted in testing more than 80,000 people for AATD.

Baxter is a leading global medical products and services company that develops, manufactures and markets products to treat hemophilia (a bleeding disorder), kidney disease and infectious diseases. the company’s main competitors are Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX – News) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ – News).

Baxter’s products are primarily life-sustaining, offering a natural hedge against soft economic conditions. However, the company faces significant risks from product recalls, which may drag its bottom line.

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