Heart drug recalled amid counterfeit fears
A batch of a cholesterol-lowering drug taken by millions of Britons is being recalled after counterfeit copies were found on the market.
A total of 120,000 packs of Lipitor 20mg tablets, bearing the batch number 004405K1, are being recalled by health watchdog Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), in conjunction with Pfizer.
The prescription-only drug is used for the treatment of heart conditions and was prescribed by British doctors 11 million times last year.
The recall was sent out to 20,000 chemists and wholesalers. Seventy-three packets of counterfeit Lipitor have so far been discovered after a tip-off from customs officers in Rotterdam, Holland.
The MHRA said patients were not at any immediate risk from the fake drugs. Patients should return their prescription to chemists, where they will be given a new supply.
The rapid action by MHRA is part of a new offensive against fake medication production, which is attracting a growing number of criminals and is regarded as one of the greatest threats to public health.
The development of more sophisticated counterfeiting technology and the opportunities to sell drugs over the internet for large profits have contributed to the growing risk.
Last year, counterfeit batches of Cialis, used to treat impotence, and Reductil, used to treat obesity, were discovered.
Pfizer have called for more effort to be made by authorities in the UK and Europe to ensure the safety of medicines, including the introduction of tamper-resistant medicine packaging and a standardised European barcode for medicines.
