All Lots of Liptruzet In U.S. Recalled Over Packaging Defect

January 14th, 2014

All Lots of Liptruzet In U.S. Recalled Over Packaging Defect

Larry Husten, PHD

Merck said today that it was recalling all lots of Liptruzet, its combination of the cholesterol-lowering drugs ezetimibe and atorvastatin, in the U.S. The company said the recall was due to a packaging defect that could potentially allow air and moisture to affect the quality of the drug, although “the likelihood of the packaging defects decreasing the effectiveness of Liptruzet on a patient’s lipid profile or negatively impacting the safety of the product is remote.” To date, there have been no adverse events or product complaints reported to the company.

Merck is recalling the drug from U.S. wholesalers but is not asking patients or pharmacies to return their stock. The company said that patients may continue taking the pills already in their possession.

Today’s action will deplete the current supply of the drug in the U.S., the company said, noting that it will resupply the drug “as soon as possible.”

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January 14th, 2014