Pharmacy and Poisons Board Recalls Heart and Blood Pressure Drugs Over Cancer Fears

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has ordered the recollection of some heart and blood pressure drugs over fears that they contain cancer-inducing impurities.

In a statement, the board claimed 15 batches of the drugs, produced by a Chinese company, contained a carcinogenic reported to bear potential cancer risk.

“Pharmacy and Poisons Board wishes to bring to your attention the voluntary recall of the following listed Valsartan-containing products by Denk Pharma as a precautionary measure following the detection of an impurity in the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient in certain Valsartan Products in the European Union,” the statement from the board read.

[caption caption="A Pharmacy and Poisons Board at a past workshop- via Facebook"][/caption]

The Valsartan drugs are made by a Chinese company contracted by Germany’s Denk Pharma, a pharmaceutical firm.

PPB’s statement, issued by the Ministry of Health’s Christabel Khaemba, noted that the move was to facilitate further investigations into the matter.

“This is to allow investigations to ascertain which batches are affected and the amount of impurity per batch,” the notice read.

The Valtarsan drug is used to treat high blood pressure and is also taken to treat heart attacks. The drugs include Vaslar-Denk and CoValsar Denk.

“The recall is ongoing and an e-shot with the information on the medicines on recall has been issued to health care workers,” the board stated.

Earlier this year, PPB recalled drugs used to treat pneumonia and menengitis. The board stated that patients were experiencing severe headaches. 

[caption caption="Health Ministry officials at a meeting- via Facebook"][/caption]

The Cabinet Secretary for Health Sicily Kariuki, in July, stated that the ministry would work to protect Kenyans against fake drugs drugs as well as part of stringent measures to ensure counterfeit drugs do not reach patients.

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