China Publicly Disputes Tainted Heparin Origin

Officials for the United States met with the Chinese regarding the origin of the tainted heparin that sparked a rash of allergic reactions and several dozen US deaths lately but failed to reach an agreement as to where the contaminant in the drug actually came from and whether the contaminant did, in fact, cause the adverse reactions. Read more

Heparin Contamination Deaths Counted

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just released some important statistics that reveal the number of heparin-related deaths before and after the recent recall of heparin and heparin-related products manufactured and/or distributed by Baxter International Inc. and Scientific Protein Laboratories LLC (SPL), both headquartered in Wisconsin. SPL gets its active ingredient from its own plant in China and distributes its heparin products to Baxter. Read more

Heparin Recall Growing Global

In the last few days, three new countries have joined the growing list of nations recalling heparin, the popular blood-thinning medication that has made headlines around the world in recent weeks due to contamination of its raw ingredients, which has lead to hundreds of allergic reactions and more than a dozen deaths. Read more

China Gets Serious About Heparin Contamination

China’s State Food and Drug Administration has issued a directive to the makers of heparin and heparin-related products to purchase supplies from only registered suppliers and to strengthen quality control standards. The safety of the raw ingredients has come under fire lately, prompting many recalls around the world, including the United States. Read more

Substance in Heparin Found

A growing trend from China seems to be undermining the integrity of Chinese products. Last year alone, diethylene glycol, a component of antifreeze, was found in cold medicines made or sourced in China and shipped worldwide. More than 100 people died from taking the tainted cold medicines and many dozens more became ill. Melamine, a flame-retardant, was discovered in pet foods that killed many cats and dogs before being traced to a Chinese supplier. Read more

Heparin Stopped at the Border

On Friday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is taking action against shipments of heparin coming into the country from China after an influx of reports describing allergic reactions, including four fatalities, which may be linked to contaminated product. All shipments reaching the US border will now be tested for contamination before further distribution. Read more

China Behind Japanese Recall of US-Made Heparin

Three Japanese companies recently recalled the drug, heparin, because its manufacturer in Wisconsin uses ingredients from China. They cite precaution as their reason for the recall. Scientific Protein Laboratories in Waunakee, Wisconsin, gets its product from its own plant in China. It also provides the active ingredient in heparin to Baxter International Inc., in Deerfield. Last month, the Scientific Protein plant in China was forced to close after hundreds of people in the US reported life-threatening allergic reactions, at least four of which resulted in death, to the heparin linked to the China source. Read more

Contaminated Heparin Found in Germany

German authorities have recalled a popular blood-thinner heparin, due to some 100 reports of adverse reactions. According to the reports, german heparin produced by Rotex Medica GmBH Arzneimittelwerk contains active ingredient that did not come from Scientific Protein Laboratories, the supplier for recently recalled heparin produced by Baxter. Read more

Heparin Vials Recalled by Baxter

Baxter announced a voluntary recall of all remaining lots of various heparin related drugs and heparin flush products. The initial recall was announced January 17, 2008 as a precautionary measure as reports came in of adverse patient reactions that were higher than normal. Read more