Taiwan orders Glaxo to recall two antibiotics

Jun 13, 2011 TAIPEI - GlaxoSmithKline, the United Kingdom's biggest drugmaker, was ordered to recall two antibiotic products by Taiwan authorities, following a similar demand by the Hong Kong government, after an industrial plasticiser was found in samples of the medicines used to treat bacterial infections. Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) had earlier said that GlaxoSmithKline's Augmentin Oral Suspension drug available in Singapore has been found safe for consumption. HSA, which took samples for testing earlier this month, had also clarified that the formulations of Augmentin available in Taiwan are not available in Singapore. On Saturday, the Department of Health in Taipei said in a statement on its website that Augmentin powder for syrup 156 mg/5 ml and 457 mg/5 ml must be removed from shelves, Samples of the medicine were found to contain more than 10 parts-per-million of Di-isodecyl phthalate - known as DIDP - Mr Hsu Chien-wen, a deputy director at the department, said yesterday. "The amount is minute but the chemical shouldn't be there," Mr Hsu said. "We're demanding the company remove the risk." The Hong Kong government on June 9 ordered Glaxo to recall the 156mg Augmentin made in France after samples showed 18ppm of DIDP. Animal tests suggest long-term consumption of the chemical might affect the liver, according to a statement from the territory's Department of Health. The amount of DIDP detected would not cause any immediate health hazard, and Glaxo was ordered to submit a report on the product by June 15, including raw materials and manufacturing procedures. Taiwan has tightened food-safety inspections after a food additive was found to be contaminated with industrial plasticisers. Bloomberg