Killer Heparin linked to Chinese Pigs Identified in 11 Countries / The
New York Times

The New York Times
April 22, 2008

U.S. Identifies Tainted Heparin in 11 Countries

By GARDINER HARRIS

WASHINGTON ― A contaminated blood thinner from China has been found in
drug supplies in 11 countries, and federal officials said Monday they
had discovered a clear link between the contaminant and severe reactions
now associated with 81 deaths in the United States.

But a Chinese official disputed the assertion that the contaminant found
in the drug, heparin, caused any deaths and insisted that his country’s
inspectors be allowed to inspect the American plant where the finished
heparin vials were made. He said any future agreement to allow American
inspections of Chinese firms should be reciprocal.

“We don’t have a strong evidence to show that it is heparin or its
contaminant that caused the problem,” said the official, Ning Chen,
second secretary at the Chinese Embassy.