Rest of Sanofi's contaminated Lovenox recalled

The heparin saga continues...

PARIS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has recalled remaining batches of contaminated blood thinner Lovenox, a heparin, which were distributed before May 2008, French drug regulator Afssaps said.

Earlier this year, high levels of contamination with an oversulphated chondroitin sulphate in different types of heparin -- derived from pig intestines and used to prevent and treat blood clots -- were linked with serious side effects and deaths.

No such side effects were observed with Sanofi's Lovenox and the European Medicines Agency said in June doctors in Europe could continue to use the drug despite low levels of contamination found in some batches of the product.

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