Pharmacy Wants FDA of Chemical Causing Cancer in Blood Pressure Medication

Valisure has warned the Food and Drug Administration of a chemical that is believed to cause cancer. The chemical is widely used in blood pressure medication called Valsartan, that is produced by Novartis as well as other pharmaceutical companies.

According to a filing from the federal agency, Valisure, an online pharmacy company licensed in 37 states, told the FDA last week that high levels of dimethylformamide were found in the blood pressure medicine.

Even The World Health Organization classifies dimethylformamide, or DMF, as a probable human carcinogen.
Valisure has asked that Valsartan be recalled and that the FDA review and significantly lower the acceptable intake of DMF from its current level of 8,800,000 nanograms to less than 1,000 nanograms.

FDA spokesman Jeremy Kahn told CNBC that the agency will evaluate Valisure’s findings and will respond directly to the online pharmacy firm. He also added that patients should continue to take their blood pressure medication even if it is recalled until their doctor provides a replacement or alternative treatment.

“The quality and safety of all our products is of the utmost importance to Novartis,” said a Novartis spokesperson.

Disclaimer: We have no position in any of the companies mentioned and have not been compensated for this article.