Baxter Healthcare Corporation announced initiation of a Phase III clinical trial following U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review of its investigational new drug application to evaluate GAMMAGARD LIQUID [Immune Globulin Intravenous (IGIV)], marketed as KIOVIG in European Union, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. This trial is expected to be the first of two pivotal Phase III trials required to support filing for regulatory approval for GAMMAGARD LIQUID as a potential treatment for the disease.

The Phase III trial is a prospective, 18-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two dose-arm, parallel study in 360 subjects of both genders, ages 50 to 89 years old, with dementia of mild-to-moderate severity. The study will determine whether GAMMAGARD LIQUID treatment results in a significantly slower rate of decline of cognitive and other functions compared to placebo. Approximately 40 U.S. leading academic centers have been identified and will begin clinical trial enrollment within the next several weeks.

Efficacy will be assessed by two primary endpoints:

-- Cognitive outcomes using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale- Cognitive Subscale score (ADAS-Cog), and

-- Global clinical outcome as assessed by the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Clinical Global Impression of Change rating (ADCS-CGIC).

Secondary endpoints to be assessed at 18 months include behavioral, functional and quality of life outcome measures. Other secondary endpoints will include several plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and imaging biomarkers to assess disease progression and response to therapy.

The trial is sponsored by Baxter and partially funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS). The ADCS is a cooperative agreement between the National Institute of Aging and the University of California San Diego (UCSD). The ADCS was developed in response to a perceived need to advance research in the development of therapies that might be useful for treating patients with Alzheimer's disease. The trial will be managed by Paul Aisen, M.D., director of the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study and professor, department of Neurosciences, UCSD. The involvement of the ADCS and NIH in the conduct of the Phase III trial should help ensure the highest level of independent scientific evaluation of the potential role of GAMMAGARD LIQUID in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The project leader for the trial is Norman Relkin, M.D., PhD, director of the Memory Disorders Program and behavioral neurologist and neuroscientist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and associate professor of clinical neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Dr. Relkin is also the lead investigator for the Phase I and II studies with GAMMAGARD LIQUID for the same indication.

GAMMAGARD LIQUID contains a broad spectrum of immunoglobulins (antibodies). The therapy is approved for use as an immunoglobulin replacement therapy that boosts the immune system in patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders. The precise mechanisms of the therapy's effects in Alzheimer's disease are not yet known.

To learn about enrollment patients and caregivers may go to clinicaltrials, where details will soon be posted.

About GAMMAGARD LIQUID

GAMMAGARD LIQUID is indicated for the treatment of primary immunodeficiency disorders associated with defects in humoral immunity. These include, but are not limited to, congenital X-linked agammaglobulinemia, common variable immunodeficiency, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and severe combined immunodeficiencies.

Important Safety Information

GAMMAGARD LIQUID is contraindicated in patients with known anaphylactic or severe hypersensitivity responses to Immune Globulin (Human). Patients with severe selective IgA deficiency (IgA < 0.05 g/L) may develop anti-IgA antibodies that can result in a severe anaphylactic reaction.

Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human) products have been reported to be associated with renal dysfunction, acute renal failure, osmotic nephrosis, and death. Patients predisposed to acute renal failure include patients with any degree of pre-existing renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, age greater than 65, volume depletion, sepsis, paraproteinemia, or patients receiving known nephrotoxic drugs. Especially in such patients, IGIV products should be administered at the minimum concentration available and the minimum rate of infusion practicable. While these reports of renal dysfunction and acute renal failure have been associated with the use of many of the licensed IGIV products, those containing sucrose as a stabilizer accounted for a disproportionate share of the total number.

Glycine, an amino acid, is used as a stabilizer. GAMMAGARD LIQUID does not contain sucrose.

GAMMAGARD LIQUID is made from human plasma. It may carry a risk of transmitting infectious agents, viruses, and theoretically, the Creutzfeldt- Jakob disease (CJD) agent.

Components used in the packaging of this product are latex-free.

Thrombotic events have been reported in association with IGIV. Patients at risk may include those with a history of atherosclerosis, multiple cardiovascular risk factors, advanced age, impaired cardiac output, and/or known or suspected hyperviscosity, hypercoagulable disorders, and prolonged periods of immobilization.

IGIV products can contain blood group antibodies that may cause a positive direct antiglobulin reaction and, rarely, hemolysis.

Aseptic meningitis syndrome (AMS) has been reported to occur infrequently in association with IGIV treatment. Discontinuation of IGIV treatment has resulted in remission of AMS within several days without sequelae.

Various mild and moderate reactions, such as headache, fever, fatigue, chills, flushing, dizziness, urticaria, wheezing or chest tightness, nausea, vomiting, rigors, back pain, chest pain, muscle cramps, and changes in blood pressure may occur with infusions of Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human).

For full prescribing information, please visit gammagardliquid/hcp/index.html.

About Baxter

Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX). Baxter International Inc. develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with hemophilia, immune disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide.

This release includes forward-looking statements concerning GAMMAGARD LIQUID as a potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease and expectations with respect to the related Phase III trials. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: timely submission and approval of anticipated regulatory filings; the ability of the company to enroll a sufficient number of qualified participants in the proposed Phase III trials; the ability of the company to otherwise successfully initiate the Phase III trials; the ability of the company to complete the Phase III trials on a timely basis; clinical results demonstrating the safety and efficacy of the product as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease; and other risks identified in the company's most recent filing on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings, all of which are available on the company's website. The company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

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