Giant drugmaker Baxter International Inc. faces at least 30 new lawsuits by people injured by its tainted blood thinner Heparin. Baxter recalled the blood thinner in 2008 following reports of severe allergic reactions and deaths in patients who used Heparin. An additional 300 product liability lawsuits are anticipated to be filed following a judge’s order to convert an aggregate lawsuit into individual claims.
The FDA required new manufacturing standards for the blood thinner after the problems were linked to tainted ingredients from China. At the time of the recall, Baxter controlled about half of the entire U.S. market for blood thinners and anticoagulants. Baxter only began a full recall after other drugmakers assured they would be able to provide an adequate national supply.
The key ingredient in Heparin is made from pig intestines and the world’s supply of crude heparin comes from China due to the large number of pigs required. The contaminants were introduced into process in China before the crude heparin was shipped to Baxter in Wisconsin but the company did not detect the contaminants and allowed the product to be sold to American consumers.
Public trust in the safety of drugs and medical products must be safeguarded by rigid manufacturing standards and thorough oversight by the FDA. A key component of ensuring the public trust is the ability of injured consumers to be able to sue the negligent manufacturers. This compensates the innocent victims and forces accountability by the drugmakers.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
