Alternative drug to prevent postpartum bleeding could save many lives in low income countries

A heat stable formulation of carbetocin is as effective as the current standard of care, oxytocin, for preventing excessive bleeding after vaginal birth, a study led by the World Health Organization has shown.1

WHO currently recommends oxytocin as the first choice drug for preventing excessive bleeding after childbirth, but oxytocin must be stored and transported at 2-8°C, which is hard to do in many low and middle income countries. As a result, women giving birth in such countries may not have access to this lifesaving drug or, if they do, it …