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The UK's medical watchdog has recalled multiple generic drugs from Britain's pharmacy shelves due to "serious" deficiencies, in a move that threatens to damage the reputation of non-branded medicines.
After an inspection of an Indian firm's manufacturing plant, the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said its production methods for generic drugs sold in the UK, including a version of the anti-depressant Prozac made by Swiss giant Novartis, failed the minimum standards set by the European Union.
Other drugs involved in the recall included hypertension pills, diabetes medicine and pain-relieving drugs.
The agency's inspectors said they found "inaccuracies contained in documents such as batch manufacturing and testing records" but maintained that, "at present, there is no specific evidence to suggest that the medicines are not safe for patient use".
With generics making up more than a fifth of the UK's pharmaceuticals market, including supplying 22% of NHS-dispensed medicines, Big Pharma could benefit from a potential backlash by consumers concerned about the drugs' safety.
Earlier this year, AstraZeneca had a sales boost to its blood pressure drug Toprol XL when one of its generic rivals was criticised by the US watchdog the Food and Drug Administration, and then taken off the market.
Reader views (2)
If its cheap; the government like it for the masses.
Its not a worry for them; they go private mostly.
I was wondering about Margeret Thatcher during the last few weeks in hospital; did she go NHS or Private?
Not that it matters to me in anyway- but she did want the NHS destroyed; and Private medical health services to become the norm; much like in the USA etc.
so I wondered if she used the NHS or BUPA etc.
Most get chucked out of hospital fast these days; but she had a couple of weeks in Chelsea etc, so I assume it wasn't on the NHS.
- Mickinlondon, london., 03/07/2009 14:12
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That's scary.. are they safe?
- Kate, hants, uk, 03/07/2009 11:47
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