Baxter Said to Near Deal to Buy Sweden’s Gambro for $4 Billion

Baxter International Inc., the U.S. maker of blood products and intravenous drugs, is near an accord to buy Swedish kidney-dialysis competitor Gambro AB for about $4 billion, according to a person familiar with the talks.

An agreement may be signed in one or two weeks as the two parties discuss final terms, said the person, who asked not to be identified because talks are private. Baxter, which has been negotiating with Gambro for almost a year after weighing a bid for years, would be able to cut costs in areas such as research and development at the combined company, the person said.