Baxter may stay out of Heparin business

Apr 25, 2008

The head of Baxter International Inc. said the company has not decided whether it will resume selling the blood thinner heparin in the United States.

Baxter recalled vials of the drug two months ago after reports of allergic reactions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the drug may have been intentionally contaminated with an animal-like substance to increase supplier profits.

The drug generates $30 million of Baxter's more than $11 billion in annual sales, the Chicago Tribune said Thursday. The newspaper said Wall Street analysts asked Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Parkinson last week if was worth the legal risks to remain in the heparin business.

"We haven't made a decision whether or not we are going to re-enter (the market) with heparin," Parkinson said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

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