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 Zantac, also sold generically as ranitidine, is the latest drug in
which cancer-causing impurities have been found. Regulators have
been recalling some blood pressure and heart failure medicines since
last year.
Britain's medicines watchdog said GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was
recalling four prescription-only Zantac medicines: a syrup, an
injection and tablets of 150 and 300 milligram (mg) dosages.
(https://bit.ly/2IATooO)
Over-the-counter 75 mg dosage Zantac products are produced by a
different company and are not affected by the recall, it added.
"GSK informed the MHRA of our decision to suspend the release,
distribution and supply of all dose forms of Zantac products," a
company spokesman confirmed to Reuters.
"GSK is continuing with investigations into the potential source of
the NDMA," he said, adding that the investigations include continued
engagement with its suppliers and with external laboratories to
conduct tests on finished product batches of Zantac.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said
healthcare professionals were told on Monday to "stop supplying the
products immediately, quarantine all remaining stock and return it
to their supplier".
"We are advising that patients should not to stop taking their
medication, and do not need to see their doctor until their next
routine appointment but should seek their doctor's advice if they
have any concerns," the MHRA said.
GLOBAL STOPPAGE
U.S. and European health regulators said last month they were
reviewing the safety of ranitidine, after online pharmacy Valisure
flagged the impurities.
The FDA said Valisure's higher-temperature testing method generated
very high levels of NDMA from the ranitidine drugs.
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NDMA had previously been found in some blood pressure medicines from
a class of drugs known as angiotensin II receptor blockers, or ARBs.
After checking the over-the-counter drugs using a low-heat method of
testing, the FDA said it found much lower levels of NDMA than was
discovered with a higher temperature test employed by Valisure.
The U.S. regulator has asked ranitidine makers to conduct their own
testing to assess levels of the impurity and to send samples of
their products for testing by the agency.
Swiss drugmaker Novartis <NOVN.S> halted global distribution of its
ranitidine drugs last month.
Last week, Walmart Inc <WMT.N> joined pharmacy chains CVS Health
Corp <CVS.N>, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc <WBA.O> and Rite Aid Corp
<RAD.N> in suspending the sale of over-the-counter heartburn drugs
containing ranitidine.
Canada's health authorities have asked makers of the drugs to halt
distribution as they gather more information. Last month, regulators
in Hong Kong pulled four products, while in Ireland 13 products
containing ranitidine were recalled.
The impurity was believed to have been introduced by changes in the
manufacturing process.
(Reporting by Justin George Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Deepa
Babington, Mark Potter and Dan Grebler)
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