On Tuesday it was stated by China's Ministry of Health and the
State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) that no one had been
confirmed to have contracted the hepatitis C virus by way of a
blood-based drug taken off the market earlier this month
Patients treated with the drug, produced by Guangdong Bioyee
Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, had been tested and so far none had
contracted hepatitis C, said Zhang Jixiang, SFDA spokesman.
The patient tests were conducted by the National Institute for
the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products and the
clinical testing center of the health ministry.
Some patients had tested positive for hepatitis C antibodies but
Zhang explained this was a result of them taking the drug. It's
designed to boost a patient's immune system.
"We can conclude that the hepatitis C antibodies in the drug
were caused by contaminated blood plasma which the company bought
illegally," said Zhang.
According to medical expert, Jia Jidong, the patients are
unlikely to contract hepatitis C if the blood product contained
only antibodies but no virus. "The antibodies will disappear in
several months," said Jia, of the Chinese Medical Association.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease and although symptoms are
relatively mild compared with other types of hepatitis it can
become chronic and lead to liver cancer.
On January 16 the Health Ministry announced it was revoking the
manufacturing certificates of the Bioyee and Haikou Kangliyuan
Group. Both were found to be violating production standards
following an investigation last December.
The company's blood-based drug was sold in 12 regions including
Beijing, Shanghai, Fujian and Shandong. At least 90,000 doses have
been recalled, say the SFDA.
They and the health ministry said further investigation and risk
assessment was continuing and more information would be released as
soon as possible.
(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2007)