APP: Aiming for a Heparin Monopoly?

In its gosh-darn eagerness to respond to a potential heparin shortage (due to the recall of Baxter's heparin products), rival APP announced yesterday that it would ramp up its production of the "critical therapeutic heparin multi-dose vials." In its press release, APP reminded the world that it acquires the active ingredient in its heparin products from several manufacturers, including a Chinese plant, which have all been inspected by the FDA (unlike the Chinese facility of Baxter's heparin supplier).

Also in the press release, APP President Tom Silberg states that, "prior to this crisis," his company supplied approximately 50% of the therapeutic heparin prescribed in the United States. Baxter reportedly provided the other 50%, before the recall—which consequently leaves a nice big share of the therapeutic heparin market for APP to gobble up, unless Baxter can recover the trust of prescribers with lightening speed.