CareFusion Signs Exclusive BlisPack(R) Distribution Agreement With Grifols to Help Improve Medication Safety in Hospitals

SAN DIEGO, June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

CareFusion (NYSE: CFN), a leading global medical technology company, today announced a five-year exclusive agreement with Spanish company Grifols, to become the reseller of BlisPack(R), the first robotic system for identifying, cutting and overwrapping unit doses from blisters in the hospital pharmacies across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.*

With this agreement, CareFusion extends to new markets its leading Pyxis(R) dispensing technologies experience and expertise in medication management.

The BlisPack system automates the time consuming process of cutting up blister packs. Pharmaceutical companies generally supply their products to hospital pharmacies in the same packaging and size format as they do to retail pharmacies. A medication dose for a patient in a hospital, however, is tailored to meet individual needs and the original blister packaging needs to be cut apart and over-wrapped in unit doses under strict professional supervision guaranteeing total traceability of the process. Health professionals rely on complete traceability of medication inside the hospital to help avoid medication and distribution errors.

"As a global leader in medication and supply technologies we are continuing to focus on end-to-end solutions, from the moment the medication is delivered to a hospital to the moment that it is given to a patient," said Prasanna Parthasarathy, vice president, Global Market Development of Pyxis Dispensing Technologies at CareFusion. "Blispack with Pyxis technologies helps improve pharmacy and nursing work flow while supporting the safe delivery of medications in the hospital. This is in line with our goal to help prevent medication errors, decrease costs while improving nursing and pharmacy efficiency."

"BlisPack is Grifols' latest contribution in the complex field of medication safety and hospital logistics, resulting from our continuous commitment to innovation in the hospital sector," said Manel Sanchez Maulini, hospital logistics marketing director, Grifols International. "Since its official release in July 2010, BlisPack(R) has been successfully introduced in Grifols core markets for the Hospital Logistics division; among others, Brazil, Portugal and Spain. With this agreement, CareFusion starts the worldwide promotion of Grifols patented system, BlisPack. Our relationship with CareFusion will allow hospitals in many countries to benefit from this new technology and provide hospital pharmacy professionals with an efficient and reliable tool to safely dispense and administer medication to patients."

*Countries where CareFusion will distribute BlisPack(R) include: Algeria, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Oman, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.

About Grifols

Grifols is a Spanish holding company specialized in the pharmaceutical hospital sector and is present in more than 90 countries. Since 2006, the company has been listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange ("Mercado Continuo") and is part of the Ibex35. Currently it is the first company in the European sector in plasma derivatives and the fourth in production worldwide. In upcoming years, the company will strengthen its leadership in the industry as a vertically integrated company, thanks to recent planned investments. In terms of raw materials, Grifols has ensured its plasma supply with 80 plasmapheresis centers in the United States and in terms of fractionation, its plants in Barcelona (Spain) and Los Angeles (United States) will allow the company to respond to the growing market demand. Nevertheless, the company is preparing for sustained growth in the following 8 to 10 years and has launched an ambitious investment plan.

About CareFusion

CareFusion (NYSE: CFN) is a global corporation serving the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals measurably improve patient care. The company develops market-leading technologies including Alaris(R) infusion pumps, Pyxis(R) automated dispensing and patient identification systems, AirLife(TM), AVEA(R) and LTV(R) series of ventilators and respiratory products, ChloraPrep(R) skin prep products, MedMined(TM) services for data mining surveillance, V. Mueller(R) and Snowden-Pencer(R) surgical instruments and NeuroCare diagnostic products. CareFusion employs more than 14,000 people across its global operations. More information may be found at www.carefusion.com.