Blaming Baxter, China denies heparin guilt

Point fingers at us, we'll point back at you. That's what China appears to be saying about the heparin scandal, claiming that it wasn't the "heparin-like substance" found in batches of the blood thinner that caused hundreds of severe reactions and up to 81 deaths.

Chinese officials are also blaming Baxter, which recalled millions of doses and stopped heparin production; they say the drugmaker won't cooperate with their investigation. The company destroyed some drug samples and production records that China considered important to their probe, one official said. A company spokeswoman denied the allegation, saying Baxter has cooperated "with all parties."

Admittedly, the FDA says it can't prove that the oversulfated chondroitin found in the offending batches actually caused the reactions. But China can't prove its theory that the culprit was actually introduced in the U.S., rather than overseas. Nor will China say where the heparin-like substance came from or how it got into the blood thinner. Until proof is on the table, the blame game will likely continue.

- check out the story [1] in the International Herald Tribune
- see the Pharmalot item [2]

ALSO: Analysts are bullish on Baxter's prospects despite the heparin recall and attending fallout. Report [3]

Related Articles:
U.S., China trade blame on heparin [4]
FDA chief suspects heparin 'fraud' [5]
Heparin supply chain full of loopholes [6]
Heparin mimic found in suspect samples [7]
Origin labeling a sticky pharma problem [8]