Contamination In Common OTC Antacid Adds To FDA's API Impurity Concerns

FDA assessing contamination of Rx and OTC H2 blocker ranitidine to determine steps it should take. The contaminant, NDMA, is dangerous when consumed in large quantities, but has been found in H2 blockers at levels that don't pose a risk, FDA says.

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The US Food and Drug Administration is considering whether recalls or manufacturing process changes are needed after a contaminant was found in drugs containing the active ingredient in Sanofi’s Zantac OTC heartburn remedy and multiple generic equivalents.

A similar probe is underway by the European Medicines Agency, which is working alongside the US regulator to find the cause of adulteration of OTC and Rx histamine-2 blocker (H2) drugs containing ranitidine with nitrosamine impurity called N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, the same contaminant that led to US

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