July 30, 2015
For the second time this year, pharmaceutical company Teva has issued a voluntary recall for its intravenous cancer medicine Adrucil because of the potential presence of impurities.
As Philadelphia Business Journal reported, Teva recalled six lots of Adrucil because they may contain small amounts of silicone rubber pieces and fluorouracil crystals. In May, it recalled eight lots of the cancer medicine for the same reason.
No adverse events have been reported, but a company statement on the FDA website said “administration of an intravenous product with particulate matter has the potential to result in inflammation, allergic reactions, or blockage of blood vessels, leading to tissue death, which may be life-threatening if vital organs are affected.”
Adrucil is used to treat colon, rectal, breast, stomach and pancreatic cancer.
Teva is an Israeli company that sells more generic drugs than any other company in the world. Its North American headquarters is in North Wales, Pennsylvania.
Related story: Drug giant Teva to acquire Allergan generics unit for $40.5 billion
The affected lot numbers are: 31317857B, 31317859B, 31317920B, 31317957B, 31318136B and 31318138B. All are set to expire in December, except for the first lot, which will expire in August.
