China contaminated drug toll reaches 14

The 14th victim of a contaminated drug has died in Guangzhou, China, having been hospitalized since April 2006 for hepatitis. The Armillarisni A injection from the Qiqihar No 2 Pharmaceutical Co Ltd contained diglycol instead of propylene glycol, the latter being a legitimate component of the drug, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The substandard product was given to 65 people at the No 3 Zhongshan Hospital in Guangzhou, with kidney failure being attributed to the substituted ingredient (Marketletters passim). Five employees of the drugmaker were put on trial in August last year and 11 patients have sued the hospital, demanding 20.0 million renminbi ($2.8 million) in damages, Xinhua said. Following a public outcry over the case, China's State Council approved a plan for nationwide regulation of drug manufacturing facilities (Marketletter August 14, 2006).