2008年4月30日 星期三

US row over China-made blood drug

from BBC news


Chinese officials have rejected claims by US authorities that Chinese imports are to blame for deaths among users of the blood-thinning drug heparin.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says a contaminant sourced to a Chinese factory has been found in heparin supplies in 11 countries.

The FDA is linking the contaminant to severe allergic reactions, and deaths, among users of the drug in the US.

China says no other countries have had a problem with the drug.

Heparin is derived from the mucous membranes of pig intestines.

The drug is used in kidney dialysis and during some types of surgery to prevent blood clots.


China rebuff

But at a press conference convened at the Chinese embassy in Washington, Professor Jin Shoahong of China's pharmaceuticals standards agency was quick to dispute the claims.

He said there was no evidence that the contaminant - a chemical called oversulphated chondroitin sulphate - was to blame for the deaths.

He pointed out that the chemical had been found in heparin stocks in other countries - but that no deaths had been reported outside of the US.

"In addition to the USA and Germany, more than 10 other countries also use the heparin ingredient that contained oversulphated chondroitin sulphate to produce final heparin injection," he said.

"But there are no reports of problems from these countries."



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