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 The move comes after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
warned that some of the pills contained small amounts N-nitrosodimethylamine
(NDMA), which the regulator says is a "probable human carcinogen".
"We have banned the import of raw materials, production and sale of
ranitidine until further notice," said Khandaker Sagir Ahmed, a
director of Bangladesh's drug regulatory authority, adding that the
decision was taken a precautionary measure.
Drug manufacturers across the world have begun recalling the widely
taken heartburn drug, which is sold under the trade name Zantac
among others, while the FDA and European drug regulators review
whether low levels of NDMA in ranitidine pose a health risk to
patients.
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Domestic companies affected include Beximco Pharmaceuticals and
Square Pharmaceuticals, which produce ranitidine under the Neoceptin
R and Neotack brands respectively.
The Bangladesh drug regulatory authority will test drug samples but
has also asked domestic manufacturers to test their drugs in
accredited labs and send reports to the watchdog, Ahmed said.
(Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by David Goodman)
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