U.S. Health officials announce new heparin formula

"U.S. health officials on Thursday announced new manufacturing standards for the widely used blood-thinner heparin that will decrease the drug's potency by about 10 percent. The reformulation is largely a response to contaminated heparin that came from China in 2007-2008 and caused hundreds of severe reactions and 200 deaths among U.S. patients, most of whom were on kidney dialysis. While the new standards take effect October 1, the four U.S. manufacturers of heparin have already started making units under the new guidelines, which will make it easier to spot impurities." - HealthDay