Heparin scandal makes 2008 top 10 lists
The tainted heparin scandal was listed as the No. 1 story in the Chicago Tribune’s “The Top 10 local business stories of 2008.”
News Tagged ‘Baxter International’
Diabetic questions safety of insulin in light of heparin scandal
Meet Allie Beaty. As a diabetic, her life depends on insulin. She wants to make a difference for others like her, make “the world safer for people with diabetes,” she says on her Web page, Alliesvoice.com. So Allie established a diabetes think group and shares ”Love Diabetes” videos on YouTube to push her mission.
Europeans now dependent on China for Panadol, Tylenol
Rhodia SA, a leading producer of paracentamol drugs Panadol and Tylenol, will close its factory in France this week, leaving Europe completely dependent on imports for that drug, according to Bloomberg. Rhodia says it is dropping out of the $800 million paracentamol business because of stiff competition from Asian producers who can export the same product at a fraction of the cost.
Tainted heparin may have caused death of infant
An infant may have been among the victims of the tainted heparin scandal earlier this year, according to WorldFocus consultant Peter Eisner, who has reported on the heparin crisis over several months. Eisner reports that Julien, the son of Alex and Ann Oryschak, died Nov. 19, 2007, after becoming ill. The Oryschaks believe that heparin may have lead to their infant son’s untimely death, and they want to share their story in hopes of influencing changes in drug regulations.
Quaids get settlement in heparin overdose case
The highly publicized lawsuit between the family of actor Dennis Quaid and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has been settled, according to The Lowell Sun/Associated Press. Documents show that the Quaids have agreed on a $750,000 settlement with the hospital. The Quaid twins nearly died after they were accidentally given 1,000 times the intended dose of the blood thinner heparin shortly after birth. The settlement allows the couple to pursue claims for their children in the future.
Another lawsuit filed in tainted heparin scandal
Another lawsuit has been filed against the Wisconsin-based heparin manufacturer, Scientific Protein Laboratories and one of its major distributors, Baxter International Inc., claiming the companies allowed contaminated batches of heparin to reach hospitals and medical facilities, where it led to the death of a 59-year-old hemodialysis patient, according to The News-Enterprise.
Barton wants answers from FDA about heparin scandal
Rep. Joe Barton, a ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, appears to be fed up with the FDA’s reluctance to provide details of the tainted heparin scandal that first came into public light earlier this year, according to CNN Money. That scandal resulted in the deaths of more than 80 Americans and adverse reactions in hundreds more, and led to an agency recall of lots of the blood thinner manufactured in Baxter International’s Chinese facility.
FDA commissioner announces plans to resign next month
The Associated Press reported today that Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach will resign from his post effective Jan. 20, the same day president-elect Barack Obama takes office.
Von Eschenbach was appointed by President Bush in 2005 after the agency’s previous commissioner resigned due to ethical issues, the AP reports. While under von Eschenbach’s helm, the FDA has undergone scrutiny by Congress and consumer groups over issues such as the tainted heparin scandal earlier this year.
Congressman questions FDA’s slow action on heparin seizure
Drug company launches Web site to highlight safety measures
The sole provider of heparin in the United States, APP Pharmaceuticals LLC, has launched a Web site as a first step toward improving the safety of the medications it sells in the U.S., according to Reuters.
The Web site details the safety measures the pharmaceutical company has taken over the past several months, including enhanced labeling, unit-of-use bar codes, large lettering and color-coded bottle stoppers to help eliminate misuse of its products, which also includes injectible drugs for oncology.