Product Recalls

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

Following Test results that indicated levels of increased N-nitroso-varenicline that exceed the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) threshold of 733 ng/day calculated by Pfizer, based on ICH M7 guidance, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Ltd in South Africa took the decision to initiate a voluntary recall on Champix, batch 18069 and notified SAHPRA Regulatory Compliance Units. Recall process: Recall letter distributed to all healthcare professionals via medpages.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

The company requested the immediate return of all the affected batch of Champix to the supplying distributor for full credit without delay. As a precautionary measure, distribution remains on hold of all Distribution Points under Pfizer control

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The products are being recalled due to quality defect: the presence of a mutagenic impurity above the threshold limit observed during analysis, as requested by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare (EDQM) on new Azido impurities [the presence of Azido (5-AMBBT) mutagesic impurity beyond total threshold limit was observed during analysis].

Advise for health professionals and distributors: 

Stock is blocked for distribution and immediate quarantine of stock is initiated in Distribution and Wholesales. Quantity of stock affected to be confirmed. Return any of the above products to your United Pharmaceutical Distributor (UPD) wholesaler.

*CLONAM 0.5mg and CLONAM 2 mg are both on state tender, code: RT289-2019, tender numbers: 51401516-00002 & 51401516-00001.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The products are being recalled due to quality defect: the tablet description should be cross-scored, but instead the tablet has only a single score.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

All remaining stock at distributor put in quarantine to avoid sale and to prevent further stock from being distributed. Customers/ health professionals were sent a recall letter and feedback was requested regarding quantity of stock on hand. Available stock at customers to be returned and placed in quarantine.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The product was being recalled due to quality defect: Discoloration of tablets found in the batch.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

The identified batches blocked for sale at Adcock Distribution centers and Hold Notification letter for Adco-Napamol tablets 5000’s was circulated to the Distributors and Wholesalers who bought directly from Adcock DCs. All stock of this batch must be immediately returned to your supplying wholesaler or distributor for full credit.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The product was being recalled due to quality defect: Discoloration of tablets found in the batch.

Advise for health professionals and distributors: 

The identified batches blocked for sale at Adcock Distribution centers and Hold Notification letter for Adco-Napamol tablets 5000’s was circulated to the Distributors and Wholesalers who bought directly from Adcock DCs. All stock of this batch must be immediately returned to your supplying wholesaler or distributor for full credit.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

Austell Pharmaceuticals took the decision to initiate a voluntary recall on Azithromycin 200 mg/5 ml Powder for suspension. The recall is to be instituted due to some of the containers having defective primary packaging resulting in the seal being discoloured, which is not in line with the product specifications.

Advise for health professionals and distributors: 

The company requested immediate return of all units on hand of the batches mentioned above to their supplying wholesaler or distributor for a full credit.

Proposed action taken and its urgency: SAHPRA approved recall-letter distributed to all distribution points, recall initiated.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The products are being recalled due to quality defect: Presence of mutagesic azide impurity: The impurity, also known as known as 4-chloro azido methyl tetrazole, was detected during routine assessment and is formed during the manufacture of the active ingredient (API). The confirmed presence of a potential new azide impurity via their manufacturer was communicated to the API supplier (Zheijang Tianyu Pharmaceutical company).

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

As a precautionary measure all batches have been blocked for sale and immediate quarantine of stock is initiated in Distribution and Wholesales. Healthcare professionals are urged to return all inventory of ZARTAN CO 50/12,5 and ZARTAN CO 100/25 to their relevant distributor and/or wholesaler as soon as possible for reimbursement. Please retain this letter in a prominent position for at least one month in case of stock in transit.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

These products are being recalled due to quality defect: Presence of impurity, also known as GTI 2 (5-(4’-(azidomethyl)-[1,1’-biphenyl]-2yl)-1H-tetrazole – CAS 152708-24-2) is formed during the manufacture of the active ingredient.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

 Stock is blocked for distribution and immediate quarantine of stock is initiated.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall) 

The products are being recalled due to quality defect: The company initiated an immediate recall of the following batches of the products, as listed above, following the detection of an azido impurity in the losartan active ingredient. The impurity, also known as 4-chloro azido methyl tetrazole is formed during the manufacture of the active ingredient.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

Healthcare professionals are urged to return all stock on hand of the above batches of LOSAAR PLUS 50/12,5 and LOSAAR PLUS 100/25 to their relevant distributor and/or wholesaler as soon as possible for reimbursement. Please retain this letter in a prominent position for at least one month in case of stock in transit.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The products are being recalled due to quality defect: The company initiates an immediate recall of the following batches of the products, as listed above, following detection during periodic re-qualification of VHP (Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide) decontamination cycle executed at Dr. Reddy’s Formulation Unit-07, for the Filling Isolator Equipment PR-E235 & PR-E3 l 8 (Zone 1 + 3) in Line-1, Biological Indicator (BI) failure observed at locations pertaining to ISl0- Lyo loading & unloading area. Root Cause: From the investigation it was concluded that the failure of VHP requalification run was due to improper distribution of the vaporized hydrogen peroxide vapours inside the isolator. The probable reason for the failure was due to the presence of polybags in the VHP distribution lines of Isolator IS10.

Advise for health professionals and distributors: 

The action was initiated to halt and facilitate return of any potential product available at wholesale level. Distribution points will be requested to return the impacted product via their routine distribution channel to receive credit for the relevant quantities returned. All product impacted in South Africa was quarantined at the warehouse facility and reconciled against the quantity distributed.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

This product is being recalled due to a complaint relating to quality defect: The impacted batch of Dermadine Oral antiseptic solution was deemed to be defective and did not comply with the requirements of Act 101 of 1965 in terms of the product specification, Solution is clear – no iodine colour, smell or taste, (lack of efficacy).

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

Please refrain from selling or dispensing this batch. Stock of the affected the batch is re-called from the wholesalers and direct retailers, including cross- border customers, utilising company representatives.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

This product is being recalled due to a complaint relating to quality defect: Complaint on the final product packaging of Osvaren 435mg/ 235m g film- coated tablets (a secondary label with new expiry date affixed on top of the originally printed one).

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

Immediate batch tracing, quarantine of stock from all distributors & their clients, immediate notification to recall the batches sent to the regulatory authority.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

This product is being recalled due to a complaint relating to quality defect: The assay of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, chlorhexidine gluconate, is below approved specification and the efficacy of this product cannot be guaranteed, (Assay limit of Chlorhexidine Gluconate ut of specification).

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

Immediate batch tracing, quarantine of stock from all distributors & their clients, immediate notification to recall the batches

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The product was being recalled due to quality defect:The product was found to have microbial counts with yeast (Millerozyma farinose) and mould; the count was above specification. Out of Specification results were then reported by customer whilst using customer method (undiluted), which was confirmed by the manufacturer using customer method. The recall was requested based on the presence and count of the organism.

Recall process: Recall letters have been distributed to all Distributors.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

The manufacturer requested for the immediate return of all the affected batches of Lactulose concentrate API to the supplying distributor without delay. As a precautionary measure, distribution remains on hold for all stock on site at the manufacturer and no manufacturing is taking place until corrective measures are confirmed.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The product was being recalled due to quality defect: Floaters that look like mould were found inside a few number of ampoules.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

As a safety precautionary measure, due to affected units found, Equity Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd recommends that healthcare providers should immediately discontinue the use of PROTA injection and to return all units of PROTA to Equity Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd. and send an email to section21@equitypharma.co.za to arrange for upliftment and credit. They are also advised to retain the recall letter in a prominent position for one month.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

This product is being recalled due to a quality defect: N-Nitroso-quinapril was detected in Accumax batches tested to be above the Acceptable Daily Intake. According to the Applicant, the nitrosamine (N-Nitroso-quinapril) detected in this product is a newly identified one.

The acceptable daily intake limit (AI) calculated should be 18 ng/day.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

An Immediate batch tracing, quarantine of stock from all distributors & their clients was conducted.  Also, an immediate notification to recall the batches was sent to the regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). A recall letter was distributed to all healthcare professionals via medpages.

Customers were advised, in a form of a recall letter, to return the units of the batches listed in the table to their supplying distributor/wholesaler for full credit without delay.

For further product information or medical queries, please address this to: Pfizer’s Medical Information on 0860 734 937 (or email at Med.Info2@Pfizer.com ).

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The recall is due to out of specification results for dissolution during stability studies, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Ltd in South Africa took the decision to initiate a voluntary recall on Demetrin 10 mg, batch DT3236.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

The company requested the return of all stock of the affected batch to the supplying distributor/wholesaler for full credit without delay.

Proposed action taken and its urgency: SAHPRA approved recall letter distributed to all distribution points, recall initiated.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

Cipla Medpro (Pty) Ltd, in collaboration with SAHPRA, is recalling the above-mentioned batches of Coryx Throat Spray.

The reason for the Class I Type A product recall is the remote possibility that the spray nozzle may detach from the spray mechanism during use:

The company received two product complaints from two customers (1^st customer on 04.06.2021 & 2^nd customer on 06.12.2021) who purchased a bottle of Coryx Throat Spray.

Customer 1: The customer complained that the spray nozzle came off and was stuck in his throat, he was not able to remove it and the cap was swallowed. The customer further explained that his throat was damaged trying to remove the cap.

Customer 2: The customer complained that the spray nozzle of the bottle came off while he was using it and he involuntarily swallowed it.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

All affected stock/ batches should be removed from the client’s inventory with immediate effect and returned via the normal distribution channel. The recall applies to all distribution points i.e. wholesalers throughout the country, hospital services (private as well as state hospitals), retail outlets, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, authorised prescribers and dispensers and individual customers or patients.

Proposed action taken and its urgency: SAHPRA approved recall letter distributed to all the above-mentioned distribution points and an approved press statement released to public. Immediate recall has been initiated.

Media release Publication: eNCA Headline: Cipla recalls batches of Coryx throat spray

Link: https://www.enca.com/business/cipla-recalls-batches-coryx-throat-spray

Media Coverage confirmation: Coryx Throat recall

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The products are being recalled due to quality defect: the company received customer complaints reporting discoloration of tablets and/or discoloured silica gel (complaints were either about discoloured silica gel sachets only or discoloured silica gel sachets and tablets with which the sachets had direct contact).

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

Affected stock has been blocked for distribution and the product placed on hold at Adcock Ingram distribution centers.

Proposed action taken and its urgency: SAHPRA approved recall letter distributed to all distribution points, recall Initiated.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The products are being recalled due to quality defect: Pinholes were found on the 10ml Water for Injection that is co-packaged with the Rocephin 1g Vial. These pinholes are melting defects located at the top of the ampoule head and surrounded by concavity.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

Affected stock has been blocked for distribution and the applicant requested their clients for immediate return of the affected batch of Rocephin 1G Vial pack to the

supplying wholesaler or distributor for full credit.

Proposed action taken and its urgency: SAHPRA approved recall letter distributed to all distribution points, recall Initiated.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The products are being re-called due to quality defect; the company initiated a recall because the above batches are not in compliance with the registered requirements for the South African market, as follows:

1. The incorrect artwork for both the packaging insert and the unit carton. The languages are in English and Portuguese and should be in English and Afrikaans per the local market requirements.
2. The packs do not contain a Patient Information Leaflet.
3. The material for the primary packaging is not registered for the local market.
4. The sold packs do not have the SA registration on the artwork

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

The company has requested the customers to refrain from selling any of the affected batch(s) of the JANUMET 50/850 mg and 50/1000mg packs and return to them to their supplying warehouse / distributor with immediate effect.

Proposed action taken and its urgency: The recall has id initiated; a SAHPRA approved recall letter to be distributed to all distribution points

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

The products are being re-called due to quality defect: The company received a complaint from a customer who indicated that the product is foamy and smells fermented.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

Affected stock has been blocked for distribution and the applicant requested their clients for immediate return of the affected batch.

Proposed action taken and its urgency: The recall is initiated; a SAHPRA approved recall letter to be distributed to all distribution points.

Brief description of the problem (reason for recall)

Austell Pharmaceuticals took the decision to initiate a voluntary recall on Azithromycin 200 mg/5 ml Powder for suspension. The recall is instituted due to some of the containers having defective primary packaging resulting in the seal being discoloured, which is not in line with the product specifications.

Advise for health professionals and distributors:

The company requested immediate return of all units on hand of the batches mentioned above to their supplying wholesaler or distributor for a full credit.

Proposed action taken and its urgency: SAHPRA approved recall-letter distributed to all distribution points, recall initiated.