China: another case of counterfeit drug

11/06/2007 12:00 - 1252 Views

Recently, China’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized many false albumin plasma products in provinces such as Shanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Ningxia, Qinghai, Chongqing, Jilin. Especially, in Jilin, 2000 bottles of counterfeit albumin in 18 hospitals and 39 pharmaceutical stores were found.

Albumin plasma is used in treatment of shock, burns, liver and pancreas degradation and in heart surgeries. A small bottle of plasma costs 38 US dollar. Examination of the counterfeit products by Institute of Food and Drug Research in Jilin has shown that there was no protein such “albumin plasma”.

So far, scientists have not yet found out what this kind of plasma is made of, but its is obvious that this counterfeit products could pose serious harm to patients. China’s Economic News revealed that one woman has died after using the fake plasma.

China government is now carrying an investigation nationwide. Many officials from a company that sells this counterfeit drug have been arrested.

Hien Trung (according to CCTV, AP, AFP)

12/06/2007

Source: vietnamnet