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Health

Blood clot drug almost ready for market again, company says

graphic December 22, 1998
Web posted at: 8:52 p.m. EST (0152 GMT)

From Medical Correspondent Holly Firfer

CHICAGO (CNN) -- Abbott Laboratories hopes to resume distribution of its blood clot-dissolving drug, Abbokinase, within a few days, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

In the meantime, some hospitals, such as the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle and Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston, said they have supplies left and are looking at using similar drugs.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suspended distribution of the drug in November after concern that some of the kidney cells from which the drug is made might have been contaminated with hepatitis B. The company claims none of the products on the market are contaminated. The suspension has left supplies of the drug low in many hospitals around the country. The company will be using a different batch of kidney cells that will be thoroughly tested in advance for contamination.

The drug is used primarily in emergencies to stop blood clots, usually in the legs and lungs. It is also used for dialysis patients to prevent blood from clotting around the catheter.

If Abbott Laboratories doesn't begin mass distributions soon, hospitals could run out of the drug.

Two other FDA-approved drugs on the market can do essentially the same thing, although Dr. George Strandness, a surgeon at Washington University Hospital in Seattle, said he finds Abbokinase is the easiest to use and gives the best results

Abbott Laboratories spokeswoman Melissa Brotz said the company is reallocating supplies for hospitals that run out and need more immediately.

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