Baxter Gets Approval to Make Tissue Heart Valves in Irvine

Baxter International said Wednesday that regulators approved its new tissue heart-valve factory for production.

The 60,000-square-foot facility is expected to at least double Deerfield, Ill.-based Baxter’s production here of valves made from pig or cow tissues for transplantation in people.

Earlier this year, Baxter officials estimated that the annual worldwide demand for artificial heart valves runs at about 200,000. The company said it hopes to be filling half of the demand in five years.

Limited production in the new plant began last week, the company said. The remaining assembly technicians and other staff will transfer to the new plant within the next several weeks, and the plant is expected to be operating fully by early January.