Heparin is commonly used to treat heart attacks and prevent blood clots and is prescribed to 10 million to 12 million people in the U.S. each year.
Heparin is the preferred anticoagulant for hospitalized patients because it works rapidly, can be administered carefully and there’s an effective antidote for it. It is also cheap, as one dose costs less than a packet of bandages, according to Bloomberg.
China is home to half the planet’s pigs and is the only country that can meet the global demand for the raw material used to make heparin. Now, researchers are warning of an “imminent risk” of a global shortage as the African Swine Fever kills an unprecedented number of pigs, predominantly in China.
The World Health Organization recommends governments stockpile heparin as an essential medicine. The FDA encouraged development of bovine-sourced heparin as an alternative, but products from other sources may require testing that could delay availability. Additionally, alternative blood-thinners typically aren’t as safe, effective or cheap, according to Bloomberg.
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