FDA Bans Import of Meds From Major Drug Maker

Sept. 16, 2008— -- In a major drug safety alert, the Food and Drug Administration announced today that the U.S. can refuse to import dozens of generic drugs taken by millions of Americans that are made by a major drug manufacturer in India.

People taking any of 30 generic medications, such as the generics of Cipro, Alavert and Claritin, all made at two Ranbaxy plants in India, could be affected by today's alert. But the FDA said that drug shortages are not expected in the United States, because, in all instances except for one, enough other suppliers can help meet demand for the medications.

FDA also said today that it has no evidence that the generic drugs involved are actually defective and emphasized that the agency is taking steps in advance to ensure no more products are allowed in until problems are fixed.

"The FDA has no reason to believe that drugs from these two plants already in the U.S. drug supply pose a safety problem," said Deborah M. Autor, director of the office of compliance at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Based in India, Ranbaxy has already been under investigation for allegedly selling fake or substandard medications. In February 2007, the Justice Department raided the manufacturer's U.S. offices in New Jersey. Last year, Ranbaxy recalled 73 million doses of a generic version of the pain pill Neurontin. Ranbaxy also received money from the Bush administration to make HIV drugs for Africa, and there are allegations that the data for some of those drugs was also not up to par.

On Tuesday, the FDA issued two warning letters and an import alert for drugs made by the manufacturer.

The drug maker issued a statement in response, saying, "Ranbaxy is very disappointed in the action FDA has taken today. The company has responded to each concern FDA has raised during the past two years and had thought that progress was being made. We are, however, pleased that FDA's testing and review led the agency to conclude that there is no reason to question the safety or effectiveness of Ranbaxy's drugs."

Ranbaxy also said it will review the letters and continue to cooperate with the FDA to resolve problems.

The FDA's latest announcement again ignites debate about the safety of drugs imported from other countries, following on the heels of reports about the tainted blood-thinning drug, heparin, that was imported from China. India has become a major source of generic drugs, exporting nearly $6 billion worth of them in just the last year.