Omnicell and Fresenius Kabi Collaborate to Enhance Management of Controlled Substances in U.S. Hospitals

Automated Controlled Substance Dispenser to accommodate Fresenius Kabi Simplist® MicroVault® Pre-filled Syringes

November 10, 2021

Mountain View, Calif. and Lake Zurich, Ill.,-- November 10, 2021 — Omnicell, Inc. (Nasdaq:OMCL), a leading provider of medication management solutions and adherence tools for health systems and pharmacies, and Fresenius Kabi, a global health care company that specializes in medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion, and clinical nutrition, are collaborating to provide U.S. hospitals and health systems with innovative new pharmacy technology designed to support safety and efficiency in dispensing of controlled substances in patient care areas. 

Managing controlled substances is a significant challenge for hospitals and clinics. According to a recent study, more than 148 million doses of medicine were lost in 2019, compromising both patient and workforce safety.1

Omnicell’s Controlled Substance Dispenser (CSD) is a leading high-volume, automated single dose dispensing solution designed to help pharmacies better manage controlled substances, reduce diversion, and save nursing time. By providing only one dose at a time, the CSD is designed to eliminate the need for countbacks and decrease the time required to resolve discrepancies to provide nurses more time for direct patient care and discourage diversion.2

Through its relationship with Fresenius Kabi, Omnicell has designed new cassettes for its CSD specifically for Fresenius Kabi Simplist® MicroVault® prefilled syringes that will provide customers more flexibility with their medication supply chain and enhanced controlled substance management initiatives. The new Fresenius Kabi cassettes for the Omnicell CSD are available now. 

Fresenius Kabi Simplist® MicroVault® prefilled syringes are used by hospitals in the United States in an effort to help reduce the amount of time nurses spend preparing doses and documenting waste. The error rate is four times lower using these prefilled syringes compared with traditional medication administration practices.3 The new cassettes for the Omnicell CSD will accommodate MicroVault® packaging for a variety of low-dose narcotic medications including morphine, hydromorphone, and fentanyl. The syringes are manufacturer-prepared in the United States, with a 24-month shelf life, and are single-unit doses, supporting best practices for medication administration.

“Omnicell is committed to addressing the biggest challenges in pharmacy care delivery through technology,” said Nish Parekh, Omnicell’s Vice President of Product Management for Point of Care Solutions. “Through innovative collaborations with healthcare leaders like Fresenius Kabi, we’re delivering the solutions designed to help our customers manage controlled substances, reduce diversion, optimize inventory, and enhance clinical workflows to support optimal care and patient safety.”

“Fresenius Kabi is committed to medication safety and the responsible use of controlled substances,” said Angie Lindsey, Vice President of Marketing for Fresenius Kabi USA. “The combination of Omnicell’s Controlled Substance Dispenser automation workflow with Fresenius Kabi Simplist® MicroVault® prefilled syringes will offer healthcare providers advanced tools and technology to achieve these aims.” 

The Fresenius Kabi-Omnicell relationship and offering is an important step toward the vision of the Autonomous Pharmacy, a roadmap to develop a zero-error, fully automated medication management infrastructure. Through Omnicell’s industry leading medication management portfolio of hardware, software, and technology-enabled services delivered through the cloud, many health systems and retail pharmacies are realizing how connected technology and intelligence can help solve some of the most pressing challenges in medication management.

About Fresenius Kabi

Fresenius Kabi (www.fresenius-kabi.com/us) is a global health care company that specializes in medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. The company’s products and services are used to help treat critical and chronic conditions. The company’s U.S. headquarters is in Lake Zurich, Illinois. The company’s global headquarters is in Bad Homburg, Germany. To learn about U.S. career opportunities at Fresenius Kabi, visit us at www.fresenius-kabi.com/us/join-us. Learn more about the Simplist® ready-to-administer prefilled syringe portfolio at www.simplist-us.com

About Omnicell

Since 1992, Omnicell has been committed to transforming the pharmacy care delivery model to dramatically improve outcomes and lower costs. Through the vision of the autonomous pharmacy, a combination of automation, intelligence, and technology-enabled services, powered by a cloud data platform, Omnicell supports more efficient ways to manage medications across all care settings. Over 7,000 facilities worldwide use Omnicell automation and analytics solutions to help increase operational efficiency, reduce medication errors, deliver actionable intelligence, and improve patient safety. More than 60,000 institutional and retail pharmacies across North America and the United Kingdom leverage Omnicell's innovative medication adherence and population health solutions to improve patient engagement and adherence to prescriptions, helping to reduce costly hospital readmissions. To learn more, visit www.omnicell.com.

Forward-Looking Statements 

Certain statements contained in this press release relate to future plans and objectives regarding Omnicell’s products and services. These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results and other events may differ significantly from those contemplated by forward-looking statements due to numerous factors that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those described in the Risk Factors section of Omnicell’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q and in the Company’s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these risks and uncertainties. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Omnicell undertakes no obligation to update such statements, whether as a result of changed circumstances, new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

OMNICELL is a registered trademark and the Omnicell logo is a trademark of Omnicell, Inc. SIMPLIST AND MICROVAULT are registered trademarks of Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC. All rights reserved.

1. https://www.protenus.com/resources/183m-lost-due-to-healthcare-workforce-diverting-drugs-from-patient-care-in-2019

2. Based on Omnicell customer data analysis

3. Hertig JB, Degnan DD, Scott CR, Lenz JR, Li X, Anderson CM. A comparison of error rates between intravenous push methods: a prospective, multisite, observational study. J Patient Saf. 2018;14(1):60-65.

For more information, contact:

Betsy Martinelli                
Omnicell, Inc.                             
(724) 741-8341                
betsy.martinelli@omnicell.com        

Matt Kuhn
Fresenius Kabi 
(847) 220-3033
matt.kuhn@fresenius-kabi.com