Chinese Official: Heparin Contaminant Not Cause of Adverse Reactions

A Chinese health official* said today that the oversulfated chondroitin sulfate found in batches of Baxter's recalled heparin could not have caused the reported allergic reactions and deaths, because only some of the implicated batches contained the contaminant. In a weird turnaround, Chinese health officials state that they will visit Baxter's plant in New Jersey, presumably for inspection purposes. Baxter has numerous manufacturing facilities worldwide, including one in Cherry Hill, NJ.

Source: Reuters

Update: The Philly Inquirer reports that, in February, the FDA inspected Baxter's 372,000-square-foot facility in Cherry Hill, NJ, and observed no infractions.

*Jin Shaohong, deputy director-general of the China National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products.