Swine flu: Baxter to make vaccine for British government
Deerfield-based drugmaker also says 2 patient deaths not related to heparin blood thinner
By Bruce Japsen | Tribune reporter May 16, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sat-baxter-flu-heparin-may16,0,144102.story
Baxter International Inc. on Friday reported that it will make a swine flu vaccine for the British government and said the quality of its heparin blood thinner was not involved in two patient deaths in Delaware.
The United Kingdom Department of Health announced deals with Deerfield-based Baxter and British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline PLC to make up to 90 million doses of a vaccine as a precaution against the H1N1 virus, known as swine flu. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
The government said the contracts “could provide enough vaccine to protect the most vulnerable in our population before a pandemic is likely to arrive, without affecting our supply of seasonal flu vaccine.”
Meanwhile, Baxter said the company is “confident” two deaths and a third patient’s adverse reaction last week at Beebe Medical Center in Lewis, Del., are isolated and unrelated to the “quality of Baxter’s heparin premixed product.”
Use of Baxter’s heparin, a diluted form in premixed bags, was suspended at Beebe Medical Center last Friday after patients experienced problems including bleeding in the brain.
The Food and Drug Administration said it does not believe there is a drug quality problem based on its findings through Friday, but its investigation continues. The heparin in question is not the same as that sold in vials that was part of a global recall by Baxter last year.