Tainted Drugs Linked to Maker of Abortion Pill

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

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.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/world/asia/31pharma.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[DCKit]

1. Pharma, chem and food corporations took over the FDA...

during the Clinton administration - the last one, silly.

However, the big difference between WJC and WPE is that WJC appointed competent people to oversee the appropriate departments. WPE's appointments are decided by combining spin the bottle with RNC donor/fundraiser lists and a Tijuana donkey show (just for added fun).

[Demeter]

2. I Have a Really Hard Time Believing that China Makes a Drug

for US consumption. Just saying that level of stupidity would exceed everything to date that BushCo has done wrong.

[orleans]

3. you're joking, right?

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1994/vp940708/07080818.htm

http://www.nrlc.org/news/2000/NRL12/randy.html

http://www.nrlc.org/news/2000/NRL12/randy.html

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4D7143FF930A25753C1A9669C8B63

http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/jh.html

[tanyev]

4. Wasn't the main stated objection to getting drugs from Canada

that you couldn't be sure they were safe? Not that importing Canadian drugs is the ideal solution to our effed up prescription drug prices. But to cite concern over foreign drug suppliers as the reason is disingenuous.

[Ellen Forradalom]

5. And a hearty F.U. to the NYT

for running that tabloid-worthy headline.

The story is only tangentially related to mifepristone. To drag 'abortion' into the headline was completely uncalled-for.

[Dora]

6. Thank you.

That was my first thought as well.