U.S. FDA Head Says Chinese Heparin Contaminated On Purpose

The head of the U.S. FDA says the agency suspects the heparin blood thinner supplied by Chinese companies was contaminated intentionally in a case of fraud. Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach told an audience the heparin at fault for U.S. deaths contained oversulfated chondroitin sulfate, a version of a dietary supplement. "It was apparently done, we suspect, by virtue of economic fraud," he said, without elaboration. Other FDA officials have said it is cheaper to make heparin that way because the contaminate version is chemically similar to heparin's active ingredient, made from pig intestines. (Click here for more - a subscription may be required