Baxter International Inc. (BAX) recently completed production of first commercial batches of A/H1N1 Pandemic Vaccine, CELVAPAN, for the treatment of Swine Flu. The company is now planning for distribution of the vaccine with the national health authorities.
 
CELVAPAN is made using the company’s proprietary Vero cell culture technology. WHO (World Health Organization) has already raised a global pandemic alert (phase 6) for the influenza. Baxter is in constant touch with WHO and other global public health authorities with whom it has pandemic agreements. Under the agreement, these public health authorities can place orders with Baxter for a vaccine once WHO declares the disease as a pandemic.
 
The production of batches of CELVAPAN is a shot in the arm for Baxter. Furthermore, it will add to the company’s contribution to social welfare. Baxter is a leading global medical products and services company that develops, manufactures and markets products to save the lives of millions of people affected with hemophilia, kidney disease, infectious diseases, etc.
 
Baxter’s main competitors include Becton, Dickinson and Co. (BDX) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Baxter’s products are primarily life-sustaining, a hedge against the current economic turmoil. We believe that investors will benefit by adding this stock to their portfolio. As such, we continue to rate Baxter an Outperform.
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