Important information about Gambro's dialyzers
Important information about Gambro's dialyzers Stockholm, Sweden, November 9, 2001 Gambro AB (Stockholmsbörsen: GAMBaST, GAMBbST), a leading international medical technology and healthcare company, today made the following statement as a result of inquiries and questions prompted by certain recent public announcements by Baxter. The fluid Perfluorohydrocarbon is used in connection with the integrity testing process of dialyzers equipped with cellulosic membranes, that Gambro manufactures in its factory outside Göttingen in Germany. This process is restricted to this factory and to these dialyzer types and involves less than 3% of this plant production volume, that is less than 0.3% of Gambro's total production of dialyzers. The production process of dialyzers invariably involves chemicals of different kinds, which are necessary in the manufacturing process and must thereafter be removed from the dialyzers. Accordingly, Gambro's qualified production process strictly ensures the removal of such chemicals from the dialyzer/filter before packaging and sterilization. Gambro has used the perfluorohydrocarbon fluid and the corresponding process for more than 5 years. Gambro has never received any complaints or reports about this type of accidents related to these products. However, as a precautionary measure, and awaiting the results from the ongoing investigations relating to the accidents (with products that have not been manufactured by Gambro), Gambro has decided to temporarily cease using the fluid in question and to discontinue accordingly the corresponding part of the manufacturing process. The production of the dialyzers concerned will be kept otherwise unchanged. For further information please contact: Karin Avasalu, Vice President, Corporate Communications, tel. +46-8-613 65 99, +46-70-513 65 99 Pia Irell, Investor Relations Director, Corporate Finance, tel. +46-8- 613 65 91, +46-70-513 65 91 Kevin Smith, President Gambro Inc., Investor Relations US, tel. +1-303 231 4750 Gambro is a global medical technology and healthcare company with leading positions in renal care - services and products - and blood component technology. Gambro Healthcare is one of the leading providers of kidney dialysis services in the world with about 50,300 patients in 670 clinics worldwide. Gambro Renal Products comprises dialyzers, dialysis machines, blood lines and dialysis concentrates. Gambro BCT includes products for the separation and handling of blood components. The group, with revenues of approximately SEK 25 billion (USD 2.5 billion), has approximately 19,600 employees in some 40 countries. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/11/09/20011109BIT00970/bit0002.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/11/09/20011109BIT00970/bit0002.pdf