FDA Says Tainted Heparin Was Result Of Economic Fraud

Boston (dbTechno) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been knee deep in ther investigation of Baxter International’s blood-thinner heparin. It was confirmed a month ago that the tainted heparin contained oversulfated chondroitin sulfate, but it was not sure if it was by accident or intentional. The FDA now believes it may have been done for economic reasons.

The FDA Commissioner, Andrew von Eschenbach, has come out and stated that they believe the tainted heparin is a matter of economic fraud, meaning it was done on purpose and for a reason.

Back in February, Baxter had to recall the majority of its heparin products made in China, after adverse reactions and deaths took place.

The oversulfated chondroitin sulfate found in the tainted blood-thinner heparin was an altered version of chondroitin sulfate, used as a dietary supplement usually. The FDA stated the oversulfated chondroitin was cheaper to make and is very similar to heparin’s active ingredient.

Von Eschenbach stated that the altered chemical would not have made it into the heparin by accident, as there is no way that could have been done through normal manufacturing.

He believes that it was done on purpose.

Baxter’s ingredient supplier, Scientific Protein Laboratories has argued that the contamination took place before they ever had access to any of the heparin.

Scientific Protein Laboratories stated that if there was an economic motive to contaminate the heparin, it took place before they received any of the ingredients.