Baxter International Inc. and Laboratoire Aguettant SAS, Lyon, France, announced they have signed an exclusive global licensing and distribution agreement for trace elements, which are essential micronutrients used in parenteral nutrition (PN) therapy. The collaboration allows Baxter to augment its leading PN portfolio, currently available in more than 90 countries, with essential trace elements. Parenteral nutrition is an intravenous (IV) therapy, which may include a balance of protein, carbohydrates, lipids (fats), electrolytes, vitamins and trace elements for patients who cannot ingest food orally or enterally (tube-fed).

The agreement includes NUTRYELT® concentrate solution for infusion (a multi-trace element product) for adults, and SELENIUM and ZINC (single-trace element products). NUTRYELT® contains nine essential trace elements consistent with the most recent European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) guidelines for trace elements.