US FDA Requests Ranitidine Removal But Also Encourages Research For Stable Formulations

FDA requests immediate removal of ranitidine OTC and Rx drugs after third-party testing finds contaminant NDMA increases during storage, especially at higher temperatures. CDER Director Janet Woodcock asks firms to reformulate products to be stable as the ingredient remains approved.

Magnifying glass-FDA_418713547_1200.jpg

The US Food and Drug Administration requested immediate removal of ranitidine-containing drugs from the market while also encouraging the industry to make the products more stable because the ingredient remains approved for use in the US.

After testing found levels of the probable carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) increases in ranitidine over time in storage, especially at higher temperatures, the FDA for the first time requested withdrawal of an OTC drug that is not defective and otherwise

More from Regulation

More from Policy & Regulation