Heartburn drug Ranitidine suspended
Raw materials of the two Indian supplier companies–Saraka Laboratories Limited and SMS Life Science have been examined.
The government today imposed a suspension on the import, production and sale of heartburn drug Ranitidine made with ingredients of two Indian firms in the country.
A public announcement was made by the Director-General of Drug Administration Major General Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman in this regard.
Raw materials of the two Indian supplier companies–Saraka Laboratories Limited and SMS Life Science have been examined in the World Health Organisation accredited laboratory under the management of the department.
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The test revealed higher than normal levels of MDMA impurity which is harmful to human health.
"After examining raw material used for manufacturing Ranitidine, we found the presence of harmful elements. That's why we suspended its production, sale and export until further instructions. Drug companies will recall Ranitidine from the market, under the supervision of our drug supers," Mahbubur Rahman said.
On September 29, the drug administration imposed a temporary suspension on the import of raw materials of Ranitidine.
The decision came after a research paper published by the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency on September 13 found the presence of N-Nitrosodimethylamine – which contains cancer-causing elements – in Ranitidine.
