Fierce Healthcare

Baxter International said Thursday it anticipates restarting its highest-throughput IV solutions manufacturing line within the next week.

Initial batches will be manufactured concurrently with ongoing quality activities and would only be released in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements to ensure the quality and safety of the products, the company said on its hurricane update page.

The company—the U.S.’ top supplier of hospital IV fluids and peritoneal dialysis solutions—reduced its orders to hospitals and health systems after Hurricane Helene took down one of its largest manufacturing plants in North Cove, North Carolina, on Sept. 29.

The company has activated multiple strategies to keep IV supplies afloat.

On October 18, Baxter laid out new details on a sweeping importation plan to help critical intravenous fluids reach U.S. hospitals, Fierce Pharma reported. The first IV product shipments cleared by the FDA for temporary importation are set to arrive in the U.S. this weekend. By the end of the year, the company expects nearly 18,000 tons of product from Europe and Asia to reach the U.S.

The IV fluids will be shipped via some 200 Boeing 747 airplanes. There is a “range of time” over the coming weeks when providers may start receiving the product, Baxter explained.

Baxter said Thursday it activated nine plants around the world.

Shipments from Baxter sites in Mexico and Spain kicked off last week, with more shipments on the way. The FDA has authorized temporary importation from five other sites in Canada, China, Ireland and the U.K.

The FDA has declared a number of IV solution products as currently in shortage and these products could be further constrained until the Baxter North Cove facility resumes operations.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement Thursday that he was “encouraged” by reports that Baxter anticipates restarting the highest throughput manufacturing line at Baxter’s North Cove facility next week – sooner than originally expected.

“There’s more to do, including meeting regulatory requirements of the product manufactured on the restarted line, but this is good news for partners and patients,” Becerra said.

Through public-private partnership, federal agencies have quickly facilitated the import of product from six facilities around the world and made it easier for hospitals to produce their own IV fluid during the shortage, Becerra said.

“HHS will continue to use all necessary authorities to bolster supply and mitigate impact to patients. I want to thank everyone for their continued work on this important part of the recovery process,” he said.