The blood thinner heparin is one of the oldest drugs, which currently is still used in hospital surgeries and for kidney dialysis patients. It has been discovered in 1916 but didn’t enter clinical trials until 1935.

A safe provide of heparin was seriously doubted last year in a disaster that shed light on important problems generated by the fact that the majority of the ingredients for American drugs now come from foreign sources, sources which are not properly checked by the pharmaceutical industry or the Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for the safety regulation of this type of products

According to ABC News, the FDA told Nightline that at least 55 individuals may have died from the tainted heparin. Up to now, only three deaths have been unquestionably associated with the contaminated critical drug.

The pharmaceutical company Baxter supplies thousands of medical products, heparin counting among them. However, Baxter recalled the whole stock, nearly half of U.S.’s supply, after the deaths from contaminated heparin occurred. Several smaller businesses also recalled supplies. So far, Baxter said it had received 995 reports concerning contaminated heparin this year.

This was the perfect time for Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, chairman and controlling shareholder of publicly held American Pharmaceutical Partners, to intervene with a safe supply of heparin. Without it, great number of American people would have passed away.