The deaths of six Chinese people following injections with immunoglobulin prompted the authorities to take immediate measures against the company that sold the drug.

Immune globulin is an antibody extracted from blood plasma that can be injected into muscles for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as newborn sepsis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and Kawasaki disease.

Six people died from May 22 to 28 at No. 2 Hospital Affiliated with Nanchang University after being given human immunoglobulin, which had the same batch number.

The immunoglobulin involved in the deaths was produced by Jianxi Yabo Bio-pharmaceutical Co. Following the incident, Chinese authorities have ordered a suspension of the use of human immunoglobulin made by the company and asked it to recall the batch, Xinhua reported.

As it is not yet clear why the proteins caused deaths, an investigation is to be initiated by the State Food and Drug Administration and the health ministry.

The new deaths add to around a 100 others caused by the low grade of safety regarding Chinese drugs. No further than last month, the blood thinner heparin imported from China was found to be contaminated with over sulfated chondtroitin sulfate, an ingredient that imitated heparin’s main ingredient, but much cheaper.

Also, in April, five officials from a Chinese pharmaceutical company sold a tainted antibiotic responsible for more than a dozen deaths. They were later sentenced up to seven years in prison.