Baxter cleared from DoJ antitrust saline probe

Baxter (NYSE:BAX) said yesterday that it has been cleared from a U.S. Dept. of Justice antitrust probe, launched in 2017, investigating companies that market intravenous saline solutions.

The probe came as hospitals endured a shortage of intravenous saline solutions, which are used to hydrate hospital patients. The shortage dates back to late 2013, after drugmakers told hospitals they might experience delays in deliveries of saline.

In a quarterly earnings filing posted yesterday, Baxter said that it was notified that it is no longer a part of the investigation.

“The company would also like to note that the United States Department of Justice, Washington Criminal Section of the Antitrust Division, has advised Baxter that it has officially closed its grand jury investigation of the saline market, and Baxter is no longer a subject or target of that investigation,” Baxter wrote in the SEC filing.

A number of other companies, including Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and ICU Medical (NSDQ:ICUI) were also included in the investigation, having received subpoenas in 2017.

The subpoenas reportedly requested documents and testimony about the manufacturing, selling, pricing and shortages of intravenous solutions, as well as communications with competitors.