FDA identifies heparin contaminant

Washington -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says the contaminant found in Baxter International's heparin blood thinner is oversulfated condroitin sulfate.

The agency says it is trying to determine if the substance, a dietary supplement derived from animals, was introduced in Baxter's China supply chain intentionally or by accident, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, says the substance does not appear to have come straight from the pig intestines from which heparin is derived.

While chondroitin sulfate is a natural compound that occurs widely, the oversulfated version has not been widely studied.

The FDA says the substance almost certainly is derived from animal cartilage, the newspaper reported.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.