LAKE FOREST, Ill., May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hospira, Inc.
(NYSE: HSP), a leading global specialty pharmaceutical and
medication delivery company, will expand its commitment to non-DEHP
(non-di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) products by transitioning
customers to its portfolio of non-DEHP intravenous (I.V.)
administration sets. This effort reflects the company's focus on
patient safety, increased customer efficiency and reduced impact on
the environment, and coincides with the CleanMed global conference
on environmentally sustainable healthcare, which took place this
week in Baltimore.
"By transitioning to non-DEHP sets, Hospira contributes to a
cleaner environment, maintains the highest level of patient safety
and helps hospitals simplify their inventory management by
standardizing Hospira's non-DEHP product line," said Thomas Moore, president, U.S., Hospira. "Our
customers have made it clear that they want non-DEHP products, and
we're committed to meet this need."
Hospira began introducing non-DEHP sets a number of years ago,
and will continue over the next year, with the vast majority of
DEHP sets to be discontinued by early 2011.
Hospira's customers appreciate the company's commitment. When
Abington Memorial Hospital, a 665-bed regional teaching hospital in
Abington, Pa., learned that
Hospira offers cost-effective, environmentally friendly
alternatives, the hospital jumped at the opportunity to transition
to non-DEHP products. "The more we looked into it, the more we knew
it was the right thing to do – for our patients and the
environment," said Meg McGoldrick,
chief operating officer, Abington Memorial Hospital.
Efforts to minimize the release of DEHP into the environment are
becoming increasingly common among healthcare facilities. By
transitioning to non-DEHP, Hospira is helping to play a part in
maintaining a healthy environment.
For Hospira, standardizing its I.V. administration set product
line to non-DEHP also fits well with the company's Project Fuel
optimization initiative to reduce complexity across its product
portfolio. Hospira will work with customers to ensure a smooth
transition to non-DEHP products.
Background on DEHP
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), or DEHP, is a plasticizer or
softener commonly used in the manufacture of medical products such
as I.V. bags and sets used to administer medications and solutions.
The use of DEHP in medical products has been an industry standard
for more than 40 years due to its compatibility with a variety of
medications as well as its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, clarity
and ease of sterilization.
In 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a
public health notification(1) recommending that alternatives to
DEHP-plasticized devices be used in certain identified
applications. Hospira's continued transition to non-DEHP will help
hospitals align with the recommendations of the FDA notification by
providing non-DEHP medication delivery sets designed for use with
neonates, and additional options for use with blood, and drugs and
solutions that contain lipid (fat) – all of which are product areas
identified in the notification.
The I.V. administration sets in Hospira's non-DEHP product line
are manufactured with the plasticizer TOTM (tri-octyl
trimellitate). TOTM has been used for decades in the manufacture of
medical devices.
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 Hospira's goals and strategy.
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, 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.
(1) U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site, FDA Public
Health Notification: PVC devices containing the plasticizer DEHP,
July 12, 2002:
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/PublicHealthNotifications/UCM062182.
Accessed March. 2, 2010
SOURCE Hospira, Inc.