$3 Billion ($41.3B Total)

Key Executives:
Edward J. Ludwig, Chairman, President and CEO
Geraldo Q. Barbosa, President, South Latin America
Richard K. Berman, VP and Treasurer
James R. Brown, VP, Quality Management
Gary M. Cohen, President, BD Medical

No. of Employees: 25,600

World Headquarters: Franklin Lakes, NJ

Becton, Dickinson and Co.’s medical device segment registered double-digit increases in revenues last year as its sales of safety-engineered products and blood glucose monitoring products were strong drivers in growth. The safety-engineered products leaped 28% outside of the United States while growing 7% domestically. Blood glucose monitoring products brought in $76 million in 2005.

In addition to those two product lines, BD Medical boosted its revenues by 11% with the help of pre-filled IV flush syringes, pen needles for insulin injection and pre-fillable syringes sold to pharmaceutical companies. BD Medical encompasses four units: Medical Surgical Systems, Diabetes Care, Pharmaceutical Systems and Ophthalmic Systems. The Diabetes Care unit had the biggest gain in 2005 with a 17% jump to $182 million that included double-digit increases both internationally and domestically. Medical Surgical Systems is the largest unit of the four with $429 million in sales, a 9% rise in 2005. BD Medical is just one third of the entire BD company, which also includes Diagnostics and Biosciences divisions. Overall, the company’s sales rose 10% in 2005 along with the profit, which grew by 54% with the help of increased revenue and productivity.

“Our excellent results this year were driven, in particular, by our strong international performance, new product revenue growth and significant margin improvement,” said CEO Edward J. Ludwig, whose company increased its spending on R&D by 13%. “Our Asia Pacific/Japan, Canada, Europe and Latin American regions contributed double-digit revenue growth, and the combination of higher margin products and increased operating effectiveness drove margin expansion.”

The division was also helped by the launch in the United States and Europe of the BD Nexiva Closed IV Catheter System to improve the way infusion therapy is delivered and to enhance safety for both patients and healthcare workers.

In 2005, some of the more popular products in the BD Medical division were the BD Hypak prefilled syringe with the BD Preventis automatic needle shielding system, BD SoloMed syringe, BD PosiFlush Saline and Heparin Lock Flush Syringes and the BD Logic Blood Glucose Monitor.

The company did experience a recall in the first half of fiscal 2006. In February, BD Medical announced a voluntary recall for its blood glucose meters after a malfunction was reported that would affect the units of measure displayed on the meters. If the malfunction occurs and goes unnoticed, it is possible that users may misinterpret test results and change their diet or medication in a way that can result in temporary periods of high or low blood glucose and subsequently may require medical intervention.

In the most recent quarter, the second quarter of fiscal 2006, the Medical division continued its strong surge with a 9% rise in revenues to $795 million, while in the first six months of 2006 the Medical unit reported a 10% jump. The second quarter was bolstered by a strong showing in Diabetes Care and Pharmaceutical Systems units.