Pfizer Expands Lipitor Recall

Dec. 22, 2010— -- More bottles of the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor that give off a musty odor have been found, prompting the drug's manufacturer, Pfizer, to expand its ongoing recall.

The new recall involves an additional, unspecified lot of 19,000 bottles 40 mg Lipitor pills, bringing the total number of bottles pulled from the shelves to 360,000.

In a statement, Pfizer attributed the musty odor to a chemical called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA), which was previously identified in a bottle of Lipitor prompting one of the original consumer complaints.

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The FDA has indicated that the health effects of TBA at low concentrations are "minimal," mainly gastrointestinal distress in consumers who have swallowed products affected by the odorous compound.

TBA may actually stem from another chemical, TBP, used as a wood preservative in shipping pallets and other products, according to Pfizer. However, the company said it prohibits the use of TBP-treated pallets by its shippers, and U.S. pallet manufacturers are also forbidden to use TBP.

However, the FDA said TBP may be present in wood products supplied to the U.S. from other countries.

Pfizer began the recall in August, but did not make a public announcement until October when it broadened the recall to additional lots. The company said the firm that supplied the bottles changed its methods in August to fix the problem, but the lot involved in the newest recall was produced before then.

"Product filled in bottles made by the supplier prior to those changes may still be on the market, so it is possible that additional recalls could be necessary," Pfizer said.

Reports of musty odors also prompted Johnson & Johnson's massive recall of Tylenol brand acetaminophen products that began in 2009, which was followed by additional recalls of other drugs that had prompted similar complaints.

Another Drug Recall

The Tylenol odor problem, now the subject of an FDA criminal investigation, eventually led to a management shakeup at Johnson & Johnson.

Pfizer's CEO unexpectedly announced earlier this month that he was stepping down, but the Lipitor recalls have not been suggested as a reason.