News Release

NEW DATA SUGGEST AT-HOME DIALYSIS THERAPY AN EFFECTIVE OPTION FOR MORE PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED KIDNEY DISEASE

Study Supports Peritoneal Dialysis for Anuric Patients Who No Longer Have Kidney Function

SEATTLE, Wash., March 4, 2003 -- Research findings from the European APD (automated peritoneal dialysis) Outcomes Study (EAPOS), suggest that APD, a home-based dialysis treatment for people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is a suitable option for even the most difficult-to-treat or high-risk patients. Specifically, EAPOS examined the feasibility of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy for kidney disease patients with anuria, a condition in which the kidneys are unable to excrete urine on their own. Results from the study showed that at two years, the patient survival rate for those enrolled in the study was 79 percent. Additionally, up to 60 percent of anuric patients who began the trial remained on APD throughout the two-year study, which is significant because PD therapy is not generally considered an option for anuric patients. Data from the study, supported by Baxter Healthcare Corporation, were presented this week at the Annual Dialysis Conference in Seattle, Washington.

PD has not been widely used as a treatment option for anuric patients because it is commonly believed among health-care professionals that PD is most effective when patients still have some of their natural kidney function.

"This study suggests that patients have effective therapy options, including PD, even when their kidneys are completely unable to function naturally. It challenges the current clinical belief that anuric patients cannot adequately complete or be successfully maintained on PD therapy," said Simon Davies, NSRI, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire UK, EAPOS study investigator.

In PD, extra fluids and waste are removed from the blood inside the body, using the body's own peritoneal membrane, or abdominal lining, as a natural filter. This membrane lines the area that holds the stomach, spleen, liver and intestines. In this form of dialysis, blood never leaves the body. Dialysis fluid enters the peritoneal cavity through a flexible catheter surgically inserted in the abdomen. Extra fluid and waste travel across the peritoneal membrane into the dialysis fluid, which is then drained from the abdomen through the catheter after a pre-determined dwell period. APD is one type of PD that is performed at home with the help of a cycler, or machine that performs dialysis automatically, usually while a patient sleeps at night.

About EAPOS
EAPOS was a two-year, prospective, multi-center study designed to determine the feasibility and clinical outcomes of APD in patients with anuria. A total of 177 patients from 26 centers in 13 European countries were enrolled in the EAPOS study, with a median age of 54 (range 21-91 years).

The data indicate that patients with anuria can be successfully treated on PD and may also achieve adequate ultrafiltration, the effective removal and management of fluid from the blood stream during dialysis. Ultrafiltration is a primary goal of dialysis, since patients' kidneys have limited, if any, residual ability to eliminate excess fluid from the bloodstream on their own. Like findings from an earlier study called ADEMEX (Adequacy of Peritoneal Dialysis in Mexico), EAPOS data confirm that PD is a viable treatment option for a broader range of ESRD patients than were typically considered candidates for therapy. ADEMEX and EAPOS data were reviewed during several sessions at the Annual Dialysis Conference.

"We believe these results, coupled with previous research findings, will help to increase options for physicians and patients when determining how to treat this challenging group of patients," said Salim Mujais, M.D., vice president of Global Medical Affairs for Baxter's Renal business.

About ESRD
ESRD is an advanced stage of chronic kidney disease. The incidence and prevalence of ESRD have doubled in the past 10 years and are expected to continue to rise steadily in the future. Worldwide, approximately 1.5 million patients are being treated for ESRD. In the United States, more than 300,000 people -- or just over one in 1,000 -- are being treated for ESRD.

About Baxter
Baxter's Renal business provides a complete and complimentary portfolio of dialysis-related products used in the treatment of patients with kidney disease, including dialysis systems and solutions, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products.

Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal domestic operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX). Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, assists health-care professionals and their patients with treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including technological advances in the medical field, product demand and market acceptance, the effect of economic conditions, actions of regulatory bodies, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and other risks detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the company and are believed to be reasonable, though are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Actual results or experience could differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: