Push Admin

GSK recalls popular heartburn drug Zantac globally after cancer scare

Article (news)

Justin George Varghese, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/reuters/10/09/gsk.jpg"/><figcaption>Zantac heartburn pills are seen in this picture illustration taken Oct. 1, 2019. Brendan McDermid, Reuters</figcaption></figure></div>GlaxoSmithKline on Tuesday said it was recalling the popular heartburn medicine Zantac in all markets as a &quot;precaution&quot;, days after the US Food and Drug Administration found &quot;unacceptable&quot; levels of probable cancer-causing impurity in the drug.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&#x27;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.Over-the-counter 75 mg dosage Zantac products are produced by a different company and are not affected by the recall, it added.&quot;GSK informed the MHRA of our decision to suspend the release, distribution and supply of all dose forms of Zantac products,&quot; a company spokesman confirmed to Reuters.&quot;GSK is continuing with investigations into the potential source of the NDMA,&quot; 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 &quot;stop supplying the products immediately, quarantine all remaining stock and return it to their supplier&quot;.&quot;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&#x27;s advice if they have any concerns,&quot; the MHRA said.<div>GLOBAL STOPPAGE</div>US 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&#x27;s higher-temperature testing method generated very high levels of NDMA from the ranitidine drugs.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 US 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 halted global distribution of its ranitidine drugs last month.Last week, Walmart Inc joined pharmacy chains CVS Health Corp, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc and Rite Aid Corp in suspending the sale of over-the-counter heartburn drugs containing ranitidine.Canada&#x27;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.

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.

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.

GSK recalls popular heartburn drug Zantac globally after cancer scare

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Business

GSK recalls popular heartburn drug Zantac globally after cancer scare

Justin George Varghese,

Reuters

Published Oct 09, 2019 08:26 AM PHT

Read More:

GlaxoSmithKline

Zantac

ranitidine

cancer

recall

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.