Germany recalls locally made blood thinner heparin; Canadian products differ

From the Canadian Press:
Germany's medical authority said Friday it has recalled a locally produced version of the blood thinner heparin believed to be linked to contaminated ingredients from China after 80 patients suffered adverse reactions.

Axel Thiele, a spokesman for the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, said the drug, produced by RotexMedica GmbH, was pulled from the market after 80 patients suffered shortness of breath, low blood pressure and episodes of rapid heartbeat.

No one taking the drug in Germany has died, he said, and no other drug companies' products are involved.

A different brand of heparin produced in the United States has been linked to 19 deaths there, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reported.

On Friday, Health Canada said the U.S. deaths are associated with injectable heparin sodium made by Baxter International Inc., and these products are not sold in Canada. ...more

EU to begin legal proceedings vs Germany on pharmacy ownership

From Forbes:
The European Commission will initiate infringement proceedings against Germany over its restrictions on the ownership of pharmacies by sending a letter of formal notice, a spokeswoman said today.

The commission objects to a German ban on 'multiple ownership' of pharmacies, a problem for the kind of major pharmacy chains seen in Britain, France and elsewhere.

'The commission has decided to send a letter of formal notice to Germany' over the restrictions, a spokeswoman for EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy told Agence France-Presse.

According to German chemists' federation BVDA, under the current rules a trained pharmacist is allowed to run one main pharmacy and no more than three affiliates. ...more