Valsartan recalled.

[GBerserker]

According to the Times today the anti blood pressure drug Valsartan is being recalled because of contamination with a chemical that causes cancer.

thetimes.co.uk/article/78a0...

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Reading the article the recall is only for Valsartan manufactured by Dexcel Pharma and Accord Healthcare where a change in the manufacturing process (in China) has caused the issue.

I find it quite irritating that every time I pick my statins they are from a different manufacturer. One batch I decided to trace was made in India, repackaged in Portugal and distributed by a UK pharmacutical company. Definitely a massive amount of drug-miles and increased risks.

[stevejb1810 in reply to MichaelJH]

It is a fact of life that it is India and China that are the world’s drug makers (that is as true for generics as it is for innovator companies as well). I know from my own working life in Pharma that medicines (or parts of medicines) are made all over the world. It is no different to any other commodity in that regard.

[stevejb1810]

Let’s be very clear , valsartan per se is NOT being recalled. Only batches manufactured by two companies is being recalled. If you are on this medication check the supplier - if it’s either of the two implicated companies (Dexcel Pharma and Accord Healthcare ), take the medication back to your pharmacy (who, in theory at least , should replace it).

[PMRPete]

"Pharmacies in the UK are being advised to recall all batches of valsartan containing medicines made by Dexcel Pharma Ltd and Accord Healthcare (previously known as Actavis Group) as a precaution, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) has warned today. This follows an urgent investigation in to medicines containing valsartan used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions."

gov.uk/government/news/bloo...

[GBerserker in reply to PMRPete]

Thanks Pete