• 05
  • February
    2012

The idea of glass fragments being in an intravenous solution administered to patients seems frightening. Unfortunately, this is just what recently occurred with the cancer drug Treanda. Late last month, pharmaceutical manufacturer Teva announced that a batch of the potentially defective drug was recalled after glass fragments were found in one vial.

Treanda is manufactured by Cephalon, a part of Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. based in Israel. The Cephalon unit that manufactures Treanda was acquired by Teva last year.

Treanda is used in the treatment of certain conditions of non-Hodgkins lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer patients are administered Treanda intravenously. Obviously, the presence of glass fragments in an intravenous solution could cause serious damage to patients' bodies. Any particulate matter in intravenous medications may disrupt proper blood flow, harm tissues or seriously damage organs.

Wholesalers in the U.S. would have received the recalled batch of Treanda sometime between March and October. Therefore, much of the potentially contaminated drug may have already been used by patients. Those customers who received Treanda which was part of the recalled lot should have already been notified.

Thus far, no injuries or adverse events associated with particulate matter in the recalled lot of Treanda have been reported, according to a spokesperson for Teva.

Hopefully Teva has taken steps to correct whatever led to the glass fragments getting into the intravenous solution. Patients should not have to fear that a drug designed to help them heal may potentially cause them further injury.

Source: Fox Business, "Teva Recalls 1 Batch Of Treanda Due To Presence Of Glass In Vial," Jan. 27, 2012