HEALTH

Baxter to Close Local Plants: Health care products concern Baxter International said it will close its Pharmaseal facilities in Valencia and Irwindale over the next several months as part of an ongoing cost-cutting effort, resulting in the loss of up to 435 jobs. Functions now performed at Pharmaseal, a producer of disposable medical supplies, will be folded into other Baxter divisions in the Chicago area. Baxter, based in Deerfield, Ill., said the exact number of layoffs isn’t yet known because some of the 400 Valencia employees and 35 Irwindale workers might be offered jobs elsewhere within the company.