Bedford Laboratories™ Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall of Cytarabine for Injection, USP, 1 Gram Per Vial

BEDFORD, Ohio, Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bedford Laboratories™ announces a nationwide voluntary recall for the following three lots of Cytarabine for Injection, USP:

Cytarabine for Injection, USP 1 gram per vial – NDC #55390-133-01

• Lot 2066986 – Exp. Date March 31, 2014
• Lot 2111675 – Exp. Date April 30, 2014 
• Lot 2131148 – Exp. Date May 31, 2014

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070809/CLTH157LOGO )

This voluntary market recall is being conducted due to a post-release investigation of the manufacturing area which determined a potential elevated risk of a lack of sterility assurance for these specific lots.  To date, there have been no reports of any adverse events for the lots being recalled. 

Cytarabine in combination with other approved anticancer drugs is indicated for remission induction in acute non-lymphocytic leukemia of adults and children. It has also been found useful in the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia and the blast phase of chronic myelocytic leukemia. Intrathecal administration of cytarabine is indicated in the prophylaxis and treatment of meningeal leukemia.

Initial recall notification of the Cytarabine for Injection lots listed above were sent to impacted wholesalers and distributors by overnight courier and arranged for return of all recalled product.  Hospitals, emergency rooms, clinics, physician offices and other healthcare facilities and providers should not use the product lots listed above for patient care and should immediately quarantine any product for return.  Should wholesalers/distributors/retailers still have product which is being recalled, they should stop use and contact Bedford Laboratories Client Services at 800.562.4797. 

Bedford Laboratories has informed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its actions and is maintaining ongoing discussion with the agency.  This voluntary recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the FDA.

Hospitals, emergency rooms, clinics, physician offices and other healthcare facilities and providers, or patients with product quality compliance, medical or other questions concerning the use of the product or reasons for this recall should contact the Client Services Department at 800.562.4797 between 8am and 5pm EST Monday - Friday.  Any adverse reactions experienced with any of the lots reported in this release should be also reported to 800.521.5169.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online, or regular mail or by fax.

• Online:  www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
• Regular Mail:  Use postage-paid, pre-addressed Form FDA 3500 available at:  www.fda.gov/medwatch/getforms.htm.  Mail to address on the pre-addressed form.
• Fax:  1.800.FDA.0178

About Bedford Laboratories
Bedford Laboratories is located in Bedford, OH and began in 1993 as a division of Ben Venue Laboratories. Bedford Laboratories supplies an extensive selection of critical-care and medically necessary multisource and specialty injectable products to the healthcare marketplace. For more information, please visit http://www.BedfordLabs.com.

About Ben Venue Laboratories, Inc.
Ben Venue Laboratories, Inc. was founded in 1938 and is a leading manufacturer of highly complex, sterile injectable drug products for the global pharmaceutical industry. Ben Venue is located in Bedford, Ohio and employs more than 1,300 people.  For more information, visit www.benvenue.com.

Ben Venue is a U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation (Ridgefield, CT) and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies.  Please visit http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

SOURCE Bedford Laboratories