A chemical supplier from Jiangsu province is responsible for producing a fake ingredient used in drugs sold by one of the biggest pharmaceutical firms in Heilongjiang, authorities confirmed yesterday.
The supplier - identified as the Jiangsu Taixing Group - has since been shut down by police. At least 11 people fell ill after taking the drugs and four later died.
Cao Rongwen, head of the Food and Drug Administration in the Heilongjiang capital Qiqihar , was quoted by Xinhua as saying Qiqihar Pharmaceutical bought the ingredient propylene glycol used in the production of armillarisni A - a medicine for gall bladder inflammation and gastritis - from a chemical company under Taixing.
'And the ingredient turned out to be fake,' Mr Cao said.
But he failed to explain why Qiqihar Pharmaceutical did not check the quality of supplies.
Jiangsu police have detained a man, Wang Guiping , but a Taixing manager told state television the man was an imposter who forged a company letter claiming to be a representative.