The Federal Drug Administration has once again been alerted to high levels of cancer-causing chemicals found in batches of valsartan, a blood pressure medication used by millions.
Batches of contaminated valsartan have been recalled dating back to 2018, resulting in ongoing shortages of the drug. In response, the FDA this year prioritized its review of generic versions in an effort to address potential public health consequences.
The chemical in question this time around is N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF), a solvent used in manufacturing that has been classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization. It was detected in testing by Valisure, a Connecticut-based online pharmacy and analytical laboratory that has petitioned the FDA to identify and recall contaminated lots of the drug and to reduce the levels of DMF that it currently deems acceptable.
The FDA has advised that not all valsartan products are contaminated, and that people should continue taking their current medications until they can speak to their doctor about the matter.
Valsartan was prescribed to more than 8.4 million people in 2016, according to ClinCalc.com, which compiles U.S. government data on drug usage.
