Innovation

Baxter has a rich history of medical firsts. The company produced the first commercially manufactured intravenous (IV) solutions, the first commercial kidney dialysis machine, the first concentrated clotting factor to treat hemophilia, and many other breakthroughs. More recent firsts include the first recombinant factor VIII for hemophilia produced without any blood additives, and the first cell culture-derived pandemic flu vaccine.

See the Milestones page for more information about Baxter's history of innovation.

Innovation is the driving force behind Baxter's success. Baxter's businesses leverage expertise in medical plastics, biologics, solutions, sterilization and other scientific disciplines to create a range of life-saving and life-sustaining products. The company is a leader in developing recombinant and plasma-derived therapeutic proteins, IV and dialysis solutions, parenteral nutrition products, drug packaging and delivery systems, and other products and technologies.

Baxter continues to invest in research and development (R&D) to bring new and improved products and therapies to market. Principal R&D focus areas include recombinant and plasma-based therapeutics, vaccines, regenerative medicine, kidney dialysis, small molecule drugs, enhanced packaging systems for medication delivery, drug formulation technologies and pharmacy compounding.

Baxter researchers perform R&D activities around the world, including at the company's R&D facilities in Austria, Belgium, Japan and the United States. Baxter supplements its own R&D efforts by acquiring complementary technologies and entering into R&D partnerships with third parties. Current partnerships aim at developing longer-acting forms of clotting factor to treat hemophilia, a home hemodialysis platform for patients with end-stage kidney disease, a subcutaneous alternative to IV administration for various drugs and fluids, and technologies to regenerate skin and bone.

In 2010, Baxter's R&D spending was $915 million.