The US Food and Drug Administration has asked five pharmaceutical firms to voluntarily recall their formulations of the diabetes drug metformin after the agency found high levels of a possible cancer-causing impurity.
The FDA said the companies' extended-release versions of the drugs contained the probable carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) beyond acceptable limits.
NDMA contamination was responsible for the FDA's recall in April of the heartburn drug Zantac sold by Sanofi, as well as some other, generic versions of the treatment containing the ingredient ranitidine.
An FDA sokeswoman said it had not found elevated NDMA levels in immediate-release metformin.
The FDA, which said it would post the company recall notices on its website, named Canadian company Apotex Corp as one of the firms whose metformin tablets had high levels of NDMA. It has not yet revealed the names of the four other firms.
However, patients should continue taking metformin tablets until their doctors can prescribe a replacement, the agency said.
The FDA started an investigation into metformin, which is used as an initial treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes, in December.
Concerns over NDMA contamination of ranitidine and metformin formulations were raised by the online pharmacy Valisure.
Valisure said in March that its independent tests showed high levels of NDMA in metformin made by 11 companies, including Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Aurobindo Pharma.
Tests on 38 batches of metformin from 22 companies found that 16 batches from 11 companies had NDMA exceeding the FDA’s acceptable daily level of 96 nanograms, Valisure said. Several batches contained levels 10 times the daily acceptable intake limit.
A nanogram is one-billionth of gram.
NDMA is believed to be toxic to the liver and a possible factor in cancers of the stomach and bladder. It is found at low levels in processed foods such as cold meats and cheese and in alcoholic drinks and tobacco smoke.
Several brands of the blood pressure medication valsartan were recalled in 2018 and 2019 because of NDMA contamination.
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Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
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Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
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03.17am (Thursday): Hideki Matsuyama/CT Pan v Webb Simpson/Patrick Reed
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In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
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Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
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How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
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Sugary teas and iced coffees
The tax authority is yet to release a list of the taxed products, but it appears likely that sugary iced teas and cold coffees will be hit.
For instance, the non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Cold coffee brands are likely to be hit too. Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
