U.S. Marshals Seize Generic Drug Products Manufactured by Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd.

The company manufactures generic drugs such as equivalents for Fosamax, Zyrtec, Vicodin, to name a few. The notice also stated that diabetes medicine metformin, and the pain reliever tramadol are safe to continue and that all defective drugs they feel have been seized. The factory is located in Michigan. BD

U.S. Marshals, at the request of the Food and Drug Administration, today seized drug products manufactured by Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd. (Caraco), at the company’s Michigan facilities in Detroit, Farmington Hills, and Wixom. The seizure also includes ingredients held at these same facilities. “The FDA is committed to taking enforcement action against firms that do not manufacture drugs in accordance with our good manufacturing practice requirements,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Compliance with these standards prevents harm to the public.”

This action follows Caraco’s continued failure to meet the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements, which assure the quality of manufactured drugs. Through this seizure, the FDA seeks to immediately stop the firm from further distributing drugs until there is assurance that the firm complies with good manufacturing requirements.

Since January 2009, Caraco has initiated voluntary recalls of drug products to protect the public from potentially defective medications. The recalls involved manufacturing defects, including oversized tablets and possible formulation error.

Seizure of drug products is an effective remedy when there is evidence of continued poor compliance with cGMPs. Following a drug product seizure, companies often agree to a wide range of changes and improvements to their drug manufacturing practices at their facilities. The FDA has determined that the seizure of Caraco's drugs may create a shortage of one product, choline magnesium trisalicylate oral tablets, which are commonly used as pain relievers.