BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Eli Lilly, J&J, Merck, Roche cancer, autoimmune news

April 28, 2014 7:00 AM UTC

EMA said vials of Herceptin trastuzumab were stolen in Italy and that some of those vials of the breast cancer drug were tampered with and reintroduced illegally into the supply chain in some EU countries. The agency is recalling all vials suspected of being affected. EMA also said that vials of Alimta pemetrexed to treat lung cancer and Remicade infliximab to treat autoimmune diseases were stolen but that no evidence of tampering has yet been identified for either drug. EMA has not recalled any vials of Alimta or Remicade.

The agency said there have been no reports of any harm to patients in relation to the falsified drugs and that it does not expect the precautionary recall to result in a shortage. EMA has identified 13 batches of Herceptin, three batches of Alimta and four batches of Remicade involved in the theft. ...