3 Apr 2009
A spokesman for the Department of Health said today (April 3) that Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, a licensed drug importer, had initiated a recall of 12 batches of Baraclude, a drug for patients with hepatitis B infection.
The batches of product, (registration no. HK-55152), about 70,000 boxes each containing three strips of ten 0.5 mg tablets, were manufactured in the United States. About 40,000 boxes were supplied to the Hospital Authority, about 100 private doctors and some pharmacies. The remaining 30,000 boxes are being kept by the importer.
Based on information available so far, the recall was made because the registration number on the strips was wrongly printed as HK-55153. But the registration number (HK-55152) printed on the boxes was correct.
The spokesman said that the law did not require the registration number to be printed on the strips and that the issue did not involve drug safety.
The importer has initiated a recall exercise at retail level.
The DH will closely monitor the recall exercise.