Baxter International Inc., an American health care company, and Water Street Healthcare Partners, a strategic investor focused exclusively on healthcare, announced the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Cefazolin injection in Galaxy container (2 g/100 ml), which is Baxter’s flexible container that uses the company’s proprietary aseptic filling manufacturing processes.

Cefazolin injection is a cephalosporin antibacterial indicated for preoperative prophylaxis treatment. When used for preoperative prevention, it may reduce the incidence of certain postoperative infections for high-risk patients undergoing surgical procedures.

“The availability of Cefazolin 2 gram in an efficient, ready-to-use, flexible premix container that can improve pharmacy efficiency will provide additional supply options of an important antibiotic,” said Brik Eyre, president of Baxter’s hospital products business.

Cefazolin injection has been on the FDA’s drug shortage list for more than one year due to high demand. Baxter anticipates launching Cefazolin injection 2 gram frozen premix in its Galaxy container in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Cefazolin injection 2 gram represents the first of nine molecules actively under development to provide healthcare providers needed injectable formulations of essential drugs frequently used in critical care settings through Baxter’s development partnership with Celerity Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a company of Water Street, a strategic investor focused exclusively on the healthcare industry.

“Baxter’s innovative development partnership with Water Street allows us to accelerate product development and offers healthcare providers additional options for critical care medications produced with our proprietary manufacturing capabilities and in our container technology,” Eyre said.