FDA says contaminant in some Baxter heparin

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators on Wednesday said investigators found a contaminant in some batches of the active ingredient used in Baxter International Inc’s recalled blood-thinning drug heparin.

It is not yet clear whether the contaminant was the cause of four deaths and hundreds of reactions associated recently with Baxter’s heparin, Food and Drug Administration Deputy Commissioner Janet Woodcock told reporters.

Some batches of heparin linked to the reactions did contain the contaminant, but “we don’t yet have a direct causal link” with the health problems, Woodcock said.