March 6, 2018

Grifols Announces New Agreement with Henry Schein to Distribute Normal Saline Solution in the U.S.

The FDA approval received in 2017 allows Grifols to market its Normal Saline solution in 500mL polypropylene bags in the U.S. to mitigate the current shortage of Normal Saline in this market

  • The FDA approval received in 2017 allows Grifols to market its Normal Saline solution in 500mL polypropylene bags in the U.S. to mitigate the current shortage of Normal Saline in this market 
  • This agreement represents an important step to further develop Grifols Hospital Division in the U.S., a key market for the division growth strategy
  • The product is manufactured in Grifols' production plant in Murcia (Spain), which currently has a production capacity above 50 million units per year
  • Additionally, this agreement opens up new possibilities for future commercialization to expand the existing partnership with Henry Schein

Barcelona, March 5th, 2018.- Grifols (MCE: GRF, MCE: GRF.P, NASDAQ: GRFS), one of world's top three producers of plasma-derived medicines and a forerunner in the research and development of therapeutic alternatives that drive scientific and social advancements, signed a distribution agreement with Henry Schein (NASDAQ: HSIC). As the world's largest provider of healthcare solutions to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, Henry Schein will market and distribute Grifol's 500mL Normal Saline solution (0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP) in the U.S. market. The company currently manufactures this product in its industrial complex in Murcia (Spain) and received the FDA approval to market this product in the U.S. in 2017.

This agreement has given added momentum to the internationalization process underway of Grifols' Hospital Division, since the United States represents one of the key markets in the growth strategy of this business line.

There is rising demand for this type of solution in the U.S. market and this agreement marks an important step forward to mitigate the current shortage situation and represents for both companies new possibilities of future commercialization for other products manufactured in Grifols' Murcia and Barcelona facilities.

"At Grifols we are proud to help meet the pressing demand for saline product in the U.S. market supporting healthcare professionals and patients in need with high quality products and a reliable service. Our facilities in Spain are fully prepared to fulfill this commitment in partnership with Henry Schein" said Rob Jagt, President of Grifols Hospital Division.

"Henry Schein understands the complexities of the healthcare supply chain, and the demands it faces to quickly respond to the needs of providers and their patients," said Brad Connett, President, U.S. Medical Group, Henry Schein. "By working with Grifols we are pleased to offer a solution that quickly meets our customers' needs during the IV solutions shortage. Together we can leverage our global supply infrastructure and our reach into the healthcare market to ensure those most in need have access to critical medical products such as normal saline."

Henry Schein's global distribution network features 63 warehouses strategically located all over the world, which ship 99.9% of orders the same day, with 99% of orders delivered in two days. This service has been at the cornerstone of the company's commitment to distribution excellence and the reason healthcare professionals can rely on Henry Schein to meet the unique needs of its customers, which include health system physician clinics, surgery centers, oncology centers and urgent care centers.

In 2018, Grifols will continue the expansion of its capacity in its industrial complex in Barcelona (Spain). The expansion includes two new production lines of IV solutions that will enable this plant to add production capacity by an additional 20 million units to meet the increasing market demand for this type of product.

Both production plants in Murcia and Barcelona are accredited by the FDA, among other regulating bodies.