GSK Recalls Popular Medicine Zinetac
The British company GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited (GSK) has issued a complete recall of their medicine Zinetac after learning about its apparent carcinogenic properties.
The British company GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited (GSK) makes a medicine called Zinetac. This Zinetac is made using a chemical called Ranitidine. In India, The medicine Zinetac is a very popular for acidity and heartburn.The USA’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had started to investigate the chemical Ranitidine. They found that it was extremely poisonous and can cause cancer as well. Immediately after this, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) told all the state authorities to check if the medicine Zinetac was safe or not.
GSK then announced a total recall of Zinetac medicines. They said that they will stop selling, distributing and supplying all medicines that have Ranitidine in India and all over the world.GSK said that they will investigate if the chemical causes cancer or not. GSK buys the Ranitidine from two suppliers which are Saraca Laboratories Limited and SMS Lifesciences India Limited. The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM) is an organisation that gives a certificates to companies that make medicines. They have taken away Saraca Laboratories Limited certificate for making Ranitidine. GSK decided to recall Zinetac manufactured the ranitidine from Saraca Laboratories.
The Zinetac made using Ranitidine from SMS Lifesciences India Limited will not be recalled and will be kept on hold. GSK is now carrying out tests on the medicine. Notably, Ranitidine is a widely-sold antacid, which has a market size of Rs. 688.6 crore in IndiaIn India, several companies sell Ranitidine-based drugs including JB Chemicals, Dr Reddy's and Sun Pharmaceuticals.
