China Makes Many Drugs Sold In U.S.

Blood Thinner Heparin Linked To Deaths

POSTED: 4:50 pm CST February 21, 2008

UPDATED: 11:26 am CST February 22, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Do you know what's in your medicine cabinet right now? China, the country that has sold us toys with lead paint and tainted pet food, now makes a lot of the ingredients in drugs sold in the United States. KMBC's Maria Antonia reported that a current investigation centers on batches of a blood thinner called Heparin.

Heparin is manufactured by Baxter, a U.S. company, but has an ingredient made in China. In the United States, four people have died and hundreds have reported reactions to Heparin. KMBC first learned about the case when children at a St. Louis hospital suffered severe allergic reactions. The hospital alerted a state agency, which alerted federal regulators. Antonia reported that it's the kind of development that has experts worried about the changing pharmaceutical industry. In China, about a dozen deaths have been tied to a contaminated antibiotic made in that country. "The Chinese are suffering 200,000 to 300,000 deaths a year for substandard and counterfeit drugs among their own people," said William Hubbard, former associate commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. "If they can't protect their own people, how can we depend on them or any other country to protect us?" Current congressional hearings are focusing on drugs and drug ingredients made in China and other countries that are sold in the United States. Experts testified that the FDA is underfunded, that it can't inspect foreign plants regularly and that it can't tell how many plants there are or where they are. Rep. Bart Stupak, of Michigan, said he wants answers found "before Americans are sickened or killed by contaminated drugs." Regarding Heparain, the FDA doesn't know what caused the problems, but the agency admitted it did not inspect the Chinese plant that makes the drug's main ingredient. Instead, investigators went to the wrong factory. "Twenty years ago, the drugs Americans consumed were made in the United States," Stupak said. Stupak said that now, more than 80 percent of ingredients used to make drugs sold in the United States come from overseas, with almost half of that coming from India and China. KMBC found a warning letter from the FDA to another Chinese drug factory about an inspection last year. Investigators reported seeing rust and flaking paint in a production area, chipping paint at the bottom of a vessel and dripping oil. Kansas City pharmacist Howard Stark said the bottom line is that it's cheaper to get drugs overseas. He said the industry's globalization is about demand for cheaper medicines. Meanwhile, China is signing new agreements with the United States to crack down on what is described as a lucrative but poorly regulated industry. "We want to remain vigilant," said Joyce Generali, director of drug information at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Generali said she is urging patients to continue taking their medications. "I feel comfortable right now that the drugs we have in this country are safe products," she said. Antonia reported that the Heparin probe raises more questions and concerns. Experts are checking several places, including Baxter's U.S. facility. The FDA is also sending inspectors to the plant in China involved in making Heparin. U.S. manufacturers are inspected every two years, but there is no such requirement for foreign drug makers. Antonia reported that even if you look in your medicine cabinet, there is no law requiring a label listing the country of origin.

FDA Tips On Buying Prescriptions

The FDA recommends that consumers buy drugs only from state-licensed pharmacies. To check if a pharmacy is licensed, contact your local state board of pharmacy or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy at nabp.net. If you notice the shape, color, texture or taste of a medicine is abnormal, ask your pharmacist. Read more at fda.gov/medwatch.