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Information Update - Multiple Losartan-containing drugs voluntarily recalled because of potential for nitrosamine impurity Français


News provided by

Health Canada

Mar 09, 2019, 12:16 ET

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OTTAWA, March 9, 2019 /CNW/ - Health Canada is advising Canadians that multiple lots of Losartan-containing drugs are being voluntarily recalled by Teva Canada, Apotex Inc., Pharmascience Inc., and Pro Doc Limitée because of the potential for a nitrosamine impurity, N-Nitroso-N-methyl-4-aminobutyric acid (NMBA).

NMBA is potentially a human carcinogen, which means that long-term exposure could increase the potential risk of cancer.

Teva Canada is voluntarily recalling two lots of combination Losartan/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) tablets after testing of one lot identified levels of NMBA above what is considered reasonably safe if the drug were taken over a lifetime. Apotex Inc., Pharmascience Inc., and Pro Doc Limitée are voluntarily recalling multiple lots of Losartan-containing products as a precaution.  

The Losartan active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in all of the recalled products is manufactured by Hetero Labs Ltd. Unit 1, in India. These recalls represent all lots of drugs distributed in Canada that contain Losartan API manufactured at Hetero Labs Ltd. Unit 1.

Losartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) drug, also known as a "sartan." Sartans are a class of drugs used to treat patients with high blood pressure to help prevent heart attacks and stroke. They are also used in patients who have had heart failure or a recent heart attack. There have been multiple recalls of products containing another sartan, valsartan, in Canada and internationally since July 2018 because of nitrosamine impurities (see links below for more information).

As with previous recalls involving nitrosamine impurities, Health Canada is advising that there is no immediate risk to patients taking these medications, since the potential risk of cancer is with long-term exposure to the impurities. Patients should not stop taking their medication unless advised to do so by their healthcare provider.

There are alternative products currently available on the Canadian market. Health Canada continues to monitor the supply situation. Health Canada encourages Canadians to visit drugshortagescanada.ca for information on drug shortages and discontinuances. Patients with questions or concerns about any drug they are taking, including on what to do if that drug is not readily available, should speak to their healthcare professional.

Canadians with questions about the recalls can contact:

  • Apotex Inc. via Stericyle Inc. by calling toll-free at 1-877-492-4795;
  • Pharmascience Inc. by calling toll-free at 1-800-340-9735;
  • Pro Doc Limitée by calling toll-free at 1-800-361-8559, or by email at [email protected]; or
  • Teva Canada by calling toll-free at 1-800-268-4129, or by email at [email protected].

Health Canada encourages consumers to report any health product-related side effects or complaints to the Department.

Affected products
The following products containing Losartan manufactured by Hetero Labs Ltd. Unit 1 are being recalled. Health Canada maintains a complete list of sartan drugs that have been recalled because of nitrosamine impurities on its website.

Product name/Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)

DIN

Strength

Lot

Expiry

APO-LOSARTAN

02379058

25 mg

NL1453

08/2019

APO-LOSARTAN

02379058

25 mg

NL1452

08/2019

APO-LOSARTAN

02353504

50 mg

NK1254

08/2019

APO-LOSARTAN

02353504

50 mg

NK1253

08/2019

APO-LOSARTAN

02353512

100 mg

NL1461

08/2019

APO-LOSARTAN

02353512

100 mg

NG2092

04/2019

APO-LOSARTAN

02353512

100 mg

NH5932

06/2019

APO-LOSARTAN

02353512

100 mg

NH5933

06/2019

APO-LOSARTAN

02353512

100 mg

NL1460

08/2019

APO-LOSARTAN

02353512

100 mg

NH5934

06/2019

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371235

50/12.5 mg

NL1441

08/2019

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371235

50/12.5 mg

NZ8848

05/2020

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371235

50/12.5 mg

NL1445

08/2019

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371235

50/12.5 mg

NZ8849

05/2020

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371235

50/12.5 mg

NZ8860

05/2020

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371243

100/12.5 mg

NG2087

04/2019

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371243

100/12.5 mg

NL1421

10/2019

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371243

100/12.5 mg

NG2086

04/2019

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371243

100/12.5 mg

NL1422

10/2019

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371251

100/25 mg

NL1429

08/2019

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371251

100/25 mg

NZ8846

05/2020

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371251

100/25 mg

NZ8847

05/2020

APO-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02371251

100/25 mg

NZ8845

05/2020

LOSARTAN (PRO DOC LIMITEE)

02394367

25 mg

498292

03/2019

LOSARTAN (PRO DOC LIMITEE)

02394367

25 mg

605344

02/2020

LOSARTAN (PRO DOC LIMITEE)

02394375

50 mg

498779

03/2019

LOSARTAN (PRO DOC LIMITEE)

02394375

50 mg

600046

06/2019

LOSARTAN (PRO DOC LIMITEE)

02394375

50 mg

603903

11/2019

LOSARTAN (PRO DOC LIMITEE)

02394375

50 mg

498284

03/2019

LOSARTAN (PRO DOC LIMITEE)

02394375

50 mg

603895

11/2019

LOSARTAN (PRO DOC LIMITEE)

02394383

100 mg

499008

03/2019

LOSARTAN (PRO DOC LIMITEE)

02394383

100 mg

605299

01/2020

LOSARTAN (PRO DOC LIMITEE)

02394383

100 mg

605297

01/2020

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309750

25 mg

498294

03/2019

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309750

25 mg

605342

02/2020

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309750

25 mg

611944

01/2021

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309769

50 mg

498285

03/2019

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309769

50 mg

600047

06/2019

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309769

50 mg

600091

06/2019

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309769

50 mg

603894

11/2019

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309769

50 mg

612025

01/2021

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309769

50 mg

612031

01/2021

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309769

50 mg

612679

01/2021

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309769

50 mg

616743

08/2021

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309777

100 mg

498864

03/2019

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309777

100 mg

602668

09/2019

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309777

100 mg

603816

09/2019

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309777

100 mg

605298

01/2020

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309777

100 mg

605300

01/2020

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309777

100 mg

613935

03/2021

PMS-LOSARTAN

02309777

100 mg

613936

03/2021

TEVA-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02358263

50/12.5 mg

35349397A

09/2019

TEVA-LOSARTAN/HCTZ

02358263

50/12.5 mg

35344801A

09/2020

Assessment is ongoing
Health Canada continues to work with companies and international regulatory partners, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency, to assess the issue of nitrosamine impurities in certain sartan drugs, its root causes and mitigation measures. Health Canada's evaluation so far suggests that the nitrosamines may be generated when specific chemicals and reaction conditions are present in the manufacturing process of the drug's API. They may also result from the reuse of materials, such as solvents or starting materials, that are contaminated with the impurities.

An API is the active ingredient in a drug that produces an effect on the body. APIs are used in the manufacture of finished "dosage form" drugs (such as pills, capsules or tablets). 

In December 2018, Health Canada requested all companies that market sartans in Canada to test products already on the market and those to be released in Canada for N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). Health Canada also recommended that companies consider using manufacturing practices that avoid the generation and presence of all nitrosamine impurities. Health Canada has tested more than 50 samples of sartan drugs and will continue to post results of any new samples it tests on its website.

Health Canada continues to hold companies responsible for the safety and effectiveness of drugs sold in Canada and expects manufacturers to take any necessary actions to prevent the generation of nitrosamine impurities. The Department will take further steps as required to confirm that appropriate and timely action is taken to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

Manufacturers of recalled sartan APIs

Based on a review of information from a U.S. FDA inspection, Health Canada has found Hetero Labs Ltd. Unit 1 to be non-compliant with requirements for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).  A non-compliant rating means that Canadian companies can no longer import drugs that contain APIs from this site unless they are medically necessary. 

As previously communicated, Health Canada has also found the Chuannan site of Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals (ZHP) in China to be non-compliant with GMP requirements. This site manufactured valsartan that was found to contain nitrosamine impurities. All drugs containing valsartan manufactured by ZHP have been recalled in Canada. 

GMPs are internationally accepted standards that help ensure that drugs are consistently manufactured, tested, stored and distributed in a way that meets Canada's high safety and quality standards. A non-compliant rating does not necessarily indicate a product safety concern. It means that the Department has identified issues with how the company is following good manufacturing processes and procedures. Health Canada routinely inspects facilities or assesses inspection results from trusted international regulatory partners to make sure they meet these standards and maintains a database with inspection results. Health Canada does not generally proactively communicate on these ratings, but is updating Canadians at this time as part of its commitment to communicating its activities related to nitrosamine impurities in sartans.

Health Canada continues to collaborate with international regulators on inspections of foreign manufacturers of sartans and will take action and update Canadians as needed.

Related links

  • More information, including a complete list of recalled products related to this issue, and Health Canada's lab test results and test method.

Previous communications:

  • Health Canada information update (2018-12-20): Health Canada releases test results of certain sartan drugs
  • Health Canada information update (2018-11-29): Mylan-Valsartan voluntarily recalled as a precaution due to an impurity
  • Health Canada information update (2018-10-02): Health Canada finds Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceuticals site non-compliant with requirements for the manufacture of drug ingredients
  • Health Canada information update (2018-09-13): Health Canada advises of a second impurity linked to recalled valsartan drugs
  • Health Canada information update (2018-09-10): Health Canada updates Canadians on estimates of health risks for recalled valsartan drugs containing NDMA
  • Health Canada information update (2018-08-18): Teva Canada expands recall of valsartan drugs to include additional lots, as a precaution
  • Health Canada advisory (2018-07-09): Several drugs containing valsartan being recalled due to contamination with a potential carcinogen

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SOURCE Health Canada

For further information: Media Enquiries: Health Canada, (613) 957-2983; Public Enquiries: (613) 957-2991, 1-866 225-0709

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