Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

November 21, 2008 7:16:02 PM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Heparin Supply Chain Shaky in China

Posted Feb 28, 08 2:07 PM CST in Business,  World 

(Newser) – With at least four US patients dead and hundreds suffering complications from the blood-thinning drug heparin, the New York Times follows the supply chain back to Chinese slaughterhouses that deal with the pig intestines that provide raw material for the drug. Though companies say the chain is secure, the Times finds it vulnerable to contamination and lack of oversight.

American investigators are trying to determine where in the process the crude heparin, refined from pig intestines, is being contaminated. Heparin-maker Baxter International has stopped producing multi-dose vials of the drug while investigators audit the records of a US company’s Chinese subsidiary, Changzhou SPL, which collects and refines the raw material.

Source New York Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Deadly Heparin Found in 11 Nations

    Apr 22, 08 7:17 CDT
    Deadly Heparin Found in 11 Nations The FDA has traced a contaminated blood thinner from a Chinese factory to 11 countries, the New York Times reports. Severe reactions to the contaminated heparin have been linked to the deaths of 81 Americans, but it wasn't immediately clear if the drug may have triggered fatalities in other countries. Chinese officials have denied that the contamination caused any deaths and have demanded to be allowed to inspect the US plant where the heparin was packaged. More »

  • Feds ID Extra Drug in Baxter's Recalled Heparin

    Mar 19, 08 1:44 PM CDT
    Feds ID Extra Drug in Baxter's Recalled Heparin The Food and Drug Administration has identified the extra ingredient found in samples of Baxter’s blood-thinning drug heparin, the Wall Street Journal reports today. Some batches of the drug—recalled in January after reports of allergic reactions—contained over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate, but it is not certain that was the cause of the hundreds of reactions or 19 deaths linked to Baxter’s product. More »

  • Blood Thinner Woes Hit Germany

    Mar 7, 08 8:32 CST
    Blood Thinner Woes Hit Germany Heparin blood thinners may have sickened as many as 100 people in Germany, health officials report. The FDA is currently investigating the drug after it was linked to 19 deaths and hundreds of allergic reactions in the US, possibly due to contaminants from China. The agency is now recommending that all American heparin manufacturers test supplies for contaminants and counterfeit ingredients. More »

  • FDA Finds Contaminant in Blood Thinner

    Mar 5, 08 9:49 PM CST
    FDA Finds Contaminant in Blood Thinner The FDA has found a contaminant in samples of heparin, a blood thinner produced mainly in China linked to 19 deaths and nearly 800 allergic reactions in the US, the New York Times reports. The contaminant may be a counterfeit form of heparin added to reduce its manufacturing cost. The FDA is fine-tuning tests to better detect it. More »

  • Possible Heparin Deaths Increase; Recall Expands

    Feb 29, 08 8:07 CST
    Possible Heparin Deaths Increase; Recall Expands Baxter International has expanded its recall of heparin products as the FDA said the number of deaths possibly linked to the blood thinner rose from 4 to 21, the New York Times reports. The agency said it found "deficiencies" at a Chinese plant that supplied the active ingredient. Baxter, which produces about half of the nation's supply, has now recalled virtually all of its heparin products. More »

Chinese workers watch a pharmaceutical production line at a Beijing factory.   (Getty Images)
A Chinese pharmaceutical worker holds vials of medicine.   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 2)

Tags

China • medicine • pharmaceutical companies • pharmaceutical industry • pharmaceutical • Heparin • Baxter International • blood thinner • supply chain • Changzhou SPL


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other World Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »