Sartan drug contamination brings cancer uncertainty
Levels of nitrosamines and other carcinogens in affected tablets of valsartan and related drugs similar to smoking 20 cigarettes a day
Following a spate of recalls earlier in the year, many more batches of valsartan and related blood pressure drugs are being recalled after carcinogenic impurities have been found beyond the Chinese manufacturer they had been thought to originate from. Evidence of impurities, particularly N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), has also caused withdrawals of drugs using active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from three Indian-based manufacturers.