HSP

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hospira, Inc. (NYSE: HSP), the world leader in generic injectable pharmaceuticals, today announced the launch of piperacillin and tazobactam for injection in the United States. The medication is a generic version of Zosyn®, the world's leading injectable antibiotic, from Pfizer (Wyeth). Piperacillin and tazobactam injection posted 2009 U.S. sales of more than $855 million.

Piperacillin and tazobactam for injection is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat patients with moderate to severe infections. It is an injectable combination product that consists of piperacillin (an extended-spectrum penicillin) and tazobactam (a beta-lactamase inhibitor).

"The launch of piperacillin and tazobactam for injection represents another significant generic injectable introduction for Hospira this year, furthering our goal of taking costs out of the healthcare system by providing high-quality, lower-cost alternatives to proprietary medications," said Joshua Gordon, vice president, Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Hospira.

Hospira's piperacillin and tazobactam product portfolio extends beyond the formulations available from the originator. In addition to immediately offering the injectable medication in 2.25 g, 3.375 g and 4.5 g single-dose vials, Hospira will also market the only piperacillin and tazobactam for injection in Hospira's proprietary ADD-Vantage™ system.

The ADD-Vantage ready-to-use drug delivery system from Hospira enhances customer convenience and aids patient safety by eliminating the need for needles. To help hospitals reduce medication errors, Hospira also labels all of its injectable products with unit-of-use bar codes.

Hospira currently markets the piperacillin and tazobactam combination injectables in more than a dozen markets outside the United States, with plans to expand the launch to several Asian markets in late 2010 and early 2011.

About Hospira

Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness™. As the world leader in specialty generic injectable pharmaceuticals, Hospira offers one of the broadest portfolios of generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and medication management solutions. Through its products, Hospira helps improve the safety, cost and productivity of patient care. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has approximately 13,500 employees. Learn more at www.hospira.com.

Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 --

A Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the growth opportunities for certain generic specialty injectable products. Hospira cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, legal, technological and other factors that may affect Hospira's operations and may cause actual results to be materially different from expectations include the risks, uncertainties and factors discussed under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Hospira's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Forms 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated by reference. Hospira undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as the result of subsequent events or developments.

SOURCE Hospira, Inc.