China: Tainted Drugs Linked to Maker of Abortion Pill (Shanghai Hualian’s RU-486)

NYT ^ | 01/31/08 | JAKE HOOKER and WALT BOGDANICH

[TigerLikesRooster]

Tainted Drugs Linked to Maker of Abortion Pill

By JAKE HOOKER and WALT BOGDANICH

BEIJING — A huge state-owned Chinese pharmaceutical company that exports to dozens of countries, including the United States, is at the center of a nationwide drug scandal after nearly 200 Chinese cancer patients were paralyzed or otherwise harmed last summer by contaminated leukemia drugs.

Chinese drug regulators have accused the manufacturer of the tainted drugs of a cover-up and have closed the factory that produced them. In December, China’s Food and Drug Administration said that the Shanghai police had begun a criminal investigation and that two officials, including the head of the plant, had been detained.

The drug maker, Shanghai Hualian, is the sole supplier to the United States of the abortion pill, mifepristone, known as RU-486. It is made at a factory different from the one that produced the tainted cancer drugs, about an hour’s drive away.

The United States Food and Drug Administration declined to answer questions about Shanghai Hualian, because of security concerns stemming from the sometimes violent opposition to abortion. But in a statement, the agency said the RU-486 plant had passed an F.D.A. inspection in May. “F.D.A. is not aware of any evidence to suggest the issue that occurred at the leukemia drug facility is linked in any way with the facility that manufactures the mifepristone,” the statement said.

When told of Shanghai Hualian’s troubles, Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe, a leading consumer advocate and frequent F.D.A. critic, said American regulators ought to be concerned because of accusations that serious health risks had been covered up there. “Every one of these plants should be immediately inspected,” he said.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Well, this episode could die down if China makes a backroom deal with U.S. to bail out troubled American financial institution in return for keeping this quiet.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[southlake_hoosier]

We could never get tainted drugs in this country as long as there is an FDA to control it. /sarc

[Tainan]

The PRC..just providing the tainted drugs American Industry won't provide!

"A huge state-owned Chinese pharmaceutical company that exports to dozens of countries, including the United States, is at the center of a nationwide drug scandal after nearly 200 Chinese cancer patients were paralyzed or otherwise harmed last summer by contaminated leukemia drugs."