Death toll from contaminated drug rises to 14 in S China

GUANGZHOU, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- A 37-year-old man has died from the effects of a contaminated drug given to patients at a south China hospital almost two years ago, bringing the death toll to 14.

The latest victim died on Wednesday afternoon at the No. 3 Zhongshan Hospital in Guangzhou, capital of southern China's Guangdong Province, after medical treatment failed.

The man, surnamed Ren, had been hospitalized since April 2006 after contracting hepatitis.

After being treated with the fake Armillarisni A injection from the Qiqihar No. 2 Pharmaceutical Co.,Ltd., he developed a fever and began vomiting.

Doctors performed a liver and kidney transplant, but Ren died of kidney failure, said the hospital sources.

The toxic substance, identified as diglycol, causes pain in the alimentary canal and stomach and can damage the kidney, nervous system and liver.

One ton of diglycol was sold to the factory in late 2005 as "propylene glycol", an auxiliary material for producing Armillarisni A injections. The company's quality inspectors failed to discover the problem.

Using diglycol, the company produced the injection, mainly for treating acute or chronic cholecystitis and chronic and atrophic gastritis. In April 2006, the drug was administered on 65 patients in the hospital. By the end of 2007, 13 had died after suffering kidney failure.

The plant in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, was shut down and the sale of all its drugs has been banned.

Five people, all from the Qiqihar No. 2 Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, went on trial in Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court in August last year.

Prosecutors said they were responsible for allowing diglycol to be used in the production of medicines for treating liver and gallbladder diseases.

Meanwhile, 11 of the patients, including Ren, sued the hospital for 20 million yuan (2.74 million U.S. dollars) compensation.

The case is still before the courts.