WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved a new
drug from Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Inc. to control minor bleeding during
surgery.
FDA said Evithrom is the first blood-clotting protein derived from human
plasma to receive approval since the 1950s. Companies stopped marketing the
proteins due to concerns that human plasma could be contaminated with hepatitis
C, according to FDA spokeswoman Karen Riley.
"We now have technology in place to address those concerns," Riley said.
Since the 1950s, nearly all drugs used to control bleeding during surgery
have been derived from cattle plasma, according to FDA.
FDA approved Israel-based Omrix Pharmaceutical's new drug to stop oozing and
minor bleeding from small blood vessels and veins when standard surgical
techniques do not work.
The drug will be distributed by Johnson & Johnson's wound management
division.
Shares of Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Inc. rose $3.24, or 11.15 percent, to
$32.31 in midday trading. Shares of Johnson & Johnson fell 29 cents to $61.31.
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