Cadila recalls chest pain and hypertension tablets in US

Ahmedabad-based Cadila Healthcare's US division has voluntarily initiated recall of 5,400 bottles of atenolol tablets in the United States for failing to meet certain specifications.

The drug is used to treat chest pain and hypertension. It is also used to treat or prevent heart attack.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, the recall of ZyGenerics atenolol tablets, USP 25 mg 1000 count bottle, prescription only is initiated by Zydus Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. The drug was manufactured at the company's Ahmedabad plant.

This is a Class II recall in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.
"A complaint was reported by a pharmacist who stated several tablets were noticeably thicker in appearance," US FDA said on its website. The recall was initiated on August 5, 2014, as per the FDA.

However, the company did not respond immediately to an email query sent by dna.

Zydus Pharmaceuticals was also recently in news for undertaking excessive drug price hike in the US market. The US Congress has initiated a probe into the matter and the company is supposed to send its responses by October 23.

Ranjit Kapadia, senior VP – pharma, Centrum Broking, said, "It is a company initiated voluntary recall. Some tablets were observed noticeably thicker which means more dosage had gone into them. This could be then a problem of over-dosage. But this recall is nothing major."

Cadila Healthcare shares on BSE dropped to Rs 1,324.85 apiece, down 1.64% from the previous close.