The FDA has requested that the market be swept clean of all versions of ranitidine, a popular heartburn medicine. The agency has asked that the current stock of Zantac, made by Sanofi, and all of its generic versions, be pulled from stores shelves immediately.
Most versions of the drug were recalled last year after unacceptable levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) were found in lab tests. Several countries have also already banned sales of the drug.
Although the FDA said that its own testing did not uncover unacceptable levels of the toxin, a probable human carcinogen, in every sample, there are concerns that NDMA levels can increase in the products over time.
The agency has also tested a number of other popular heartburn medications — including Prilosec, Pepcid and Prevacid — and has not found dangerous levels of NDMA.
Read the Wall Street Journal report.
