DEERFIELD, Ill., Apr 27, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The image of the
Illinois-based drug company Baxter International Inc. has been sullied by the
recall of heparin, Chief Executive Bob Parkinson said.
Parkinson, Baxter Chairman and Chief, said the company's international
reputation has suffered from the scandal surrounding the blood-thinning drug,
and his 47,000 workers should view it as a learning experience, the Chicago
Tribune reported Saturday.
"This has clearly been damaging to our reputation. Let's objectively and
critically, assess ourselves. How do we get better?" Parkinson said.
Heparin was taken off the market eight weeks ago after reports surfaced that it
caused possibly fatal reactions.
The Food and Drug Administration has recorded more than 80 fatalities and 1,000
negative reactions in people who experienced at least one allergic response to
heparin since the beginning of 2007.
The FDA said last week the heparin produced by Baxter and other companies was
tainted in China with a chemically altered dietary supplement made from animal
cartilage.
Parkinson said the substance was likely put into circulation by an "unscrupulous
character" who was seeking profit.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
**********************************************************************
As of Wednesday, 04-23-2008 23:59, the latest Comtex SmarTrend® Alert,
an automated pattern recognition system, indicated an UPTREND on
04-02-2008 for BAX @ $60.05.
For more information on SmarTrend, contact your market data
provider or go to www.mysmartrend.com
SmarTrend is a registered trademark of Comtex News Network, Inc.
Copyright © 2004-2008 Comtex News Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved.