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HEPARIN NEWS UPDATE
Scientists revise heparin testing standards after deaths

February 9, 2009 -- U.S. scientists have proposed new testing standards for the blood-thinner heparin after hundreds of deaths last year were linked to tainted Chinese ingredients, Bloomberg News reports.

Heparin is one of the nation’s most popular blood-thinners, and is used to prevent blood clots in millions of people with heart conditions or undergoing surgery. Prior to last year's recall, Baxter International Inc. manufactured at least half of the injectable heparin used in the United States.

New heparin testing standards

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested revisions to the heparin standards last March when the contaminant was identified. The latest changes, scheduled to take effect August 1, include three identification tests and screening for organic impurities.

"The initial, stop-gap measure quite frankly mostly would protect against the identified contaminant," said Darrell Abernethy, the group's chief science officer. "Have we come up with a standard that would protect against the next unknown thing? We believe that we have done as good a job as is scientifically possible at this point."

Before the recall, Deerfield, Illinois-based Baxter generated about $30 million a year in heparin sales. Baxter stopped heparin sales when the contamination was discovered, and has not yet resumed selling vials of the blood thinner.

If you were harmed after being administered heparin, or by any prescribed pharmaceutical drug, please complete the form below and a representative of our firm will contact you as soon as possible.

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