Fresenius looks to boost production after hurricane damage at Baxter By Reuters

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Germany’s Fresenius said it is reviewing options to start new infusion solution production lines faster than planned at a North Carolina facility to help ease potential shortages from Hurricane Helene’s impact on rival Baxter’s (NYSE: ) Cove site in the same state.

“We are working with the US Food and Drug Administration’s drug shortage staff, who are actively engaged with Baxter and other manufacturers” to assess whether and by how much capacity needs to be increased, Fresenius said in a statement.

The German healthcare group said its hospital generics unit, Fresenius Kabi, recently started making IV solutions at a new facility in Wilson, North Carolina, and that it is looking at options to start production lines more quickly than planned in the unaffected location.

Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida’s Gulf Coast in late September, tearing a destructive path through the southeastern US states, tearing up roads, toppling homes and cutting communication lines. In its aftermath, hundreds of people remained undiscovered and many were confirmed dead.

On Sept. 29, medical device maker Baxter said its North Cove site was affected by flooding from the hurricane and was closed for production. It said it was working with the government to assess the damage and bring the factory back online as quickly as possible.