Pfizer recalls drugs that could cause cancer — Analysis

Pfizer, the drug company announced Monday that it would recall several batches of Accuretic and two generics of Accuretic due to unacceptably high levels. This was in response to concerns about a substance which US regulators believe could be cancer-causing. People who had used blood pressure medication to decrease the risk of heart attacks and stroke were advised to look for alternatives.

Multiple “tainted” lots of Accuretic and two authorized generic versions of the drug (quinapril HCl/hydrochlorothiazide) distributed by Greenstone were found to have levels of N-nitroso-quinapril above the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) set by US regulators, Pfizer said in a statement. To identify bad lots, the company gave lot numbers as well as other details.

Everyone is subject to a certain amount of nitrosamines. “impurities may increase the risk of cancer if people are exposed to them above acceptable levels over long periods of time,” Pfizer noted. 

Although the company didn’t specify the amount of nitrosamine found in the lots, it stated that there was no evidence the drug had been contaminated. “a safety profile that has been established over 20 years of marketing authorization and through a robust clinical program,”They are both. “not aware of reports of adverse events that have been assessed to be related to this recall.”

“Pfizer believes the benefit/risk profile of the products remains positive based on currently available data,”According to the statement. This recall is voluntary, and it is currently being done “with the knowledge”of the US Food and Drug Administration

For high blood pressure patients, Accuretic is prescribed along with its generics. This helps to decrease the possibility of “cardiovascular events”Strokes and myocardial Infarctions (i.e. heart attacks. 

Patients who currently take them should “consult with their doctor about alternative treatment options,”Pfizer stated that wholesalers or distributors should not be allowed to sell the lots listed by Pfizer. “stop use and distribution and quarantine the product immediately.”

New York’s pharmaceutical company is worth billions of dollar and manufactures a number of medicines. It has been the main manufacturer of Covid-19, a mRNA-based vaccine.