Chinese Leukaemia Drugs Withdrawn
It was reported in the Chinese media on Sunday 16th September 2007 that authorities there have demanded that a pair of generic leukaemia drugs be recalled. Blame has been placed on both in respect of causing extreme side effects in children. The Xinhua news agency added, quoting officials in Shanghai, that the majority of the contaminated products have now been recovered.
The leukaemia drugs in question have been named as Cytarabin Hydrochloride and Methotrexate - both made by the Shanghai-based Hualian Pharmaceutical Company. The manufacture and sale of them was suspended after reports were received describing separate incidences in which children with leukaemia developed walking difficulties. Further reports also linked the drugs to urine retention.
According to the State Food and Drug Administration, and the Chinese Health Ministry, both Methotrexate and Cytarabin Hydrochloride had become contaminated during their production, when an anti-cancer drug was mixed with them in error.
Several child leukaemia patients, were, two months ago, injected with Methotrexate. They subsequently experienced painful legs and were troubled were trying to walk.
As per Xinhua, the factories responsible for this have now been shut down. No details have yet been provided in respect of whether the drugs involved left China for overseas markets.
In recent times, China has detailed plans to reform its regulatory procedures in terms of goods including food and medicinal products. Widespread cases of food poisoning are rife, while many cases are known where unethical behaviour in the Chinese pharmaceutical sector has led to patients' deaths
In August 2007, Zheng Xiaoyu, at one time the head of the State Food and Drug Administration, was executed, after being convicted of accepting bribes in return for approving huge numbers of medicines.
Source - Pharmaceutical International's Far East Correspondent
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