Contaminated Heparin distributed earlier than originally thought

New information is emerging in the ongoing saga of Heparin contamination. Baxter, the largest distributor of contaminated Heparin, represented on several occasions that the earliest date of distribution of its contaminated products is September of 2007.  Scientific Protein Laboratories (SPL), the manufacture of Heparin API that was contaminated with Over Sulfated Chondroitin Sulfate (OSCS), for the most part has not issued a statement concerning when Heparin which contained OSCS was introduced into the market.  Baxter had about 50% of the market, and AAP had most of the rest of the market.

New information has emerged that manufacturers other than Baxter received contaminated crude Heparin from SPL as far back as 2006, much earlier than when Baxter reports it received Heparin containing OSCS. Specifically B. Braun Medical and Tyco Healthcare (now Covidien) received contaminated Heparin from SPL as early as 2006.

Both companies have issued recalls of the contaminated product. Details of both recalls, including the products affected can be found in the Heparin Contamination article published on our Medical Injury Lawyer website.

ReliOn syringes sold by WalMart and Sam's Club recalled for potentially deadly defect

Covidien has recalled ReliOn sterile, single-use, disposable, hypodermic syringes with permanently affixed hypodermic needles. The mislabeled syringe may result in patients receiving an overdose of as much as 2.5 times the intended dose, with serious health consequences, low blood sugar, and even death.

These syringes are sold only by Wal-Mart or Sam's Club pharmacies under the ReliOn name. The recall applies only to lot number 813900. The product was distributed from Aug. 1, 2008 until Oct. 8, 2008, and includes 471,000 individual syringes in 4,710 boxes.

FDA urges patients and health care professionals to check syringe packaging carefully for products with this lot number, not to use the product, and return the product to the pharmacy for replacement. The lot number can be found on the back panel of the 100 count syringe carton, or on the white paper backing of each individual syringe “peel-pack”.

If you or a loved one has been injured by this defective pharmaceutical product, you may be entitled to compensation. A medical injury lawyer can help you hold them accountable.  Contact a medical injury lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP. We can answer questions and help you understand your options.