A Bloomberg investigation uncovers tainted drugs made in unsanitary factories used by big pharmacy chains. CVS had double the recalls of competitors due to loopholes. The podcast discusses the challenges in identifying manufacturers, FDA inspection reports, and the impact of consumer decisions on drug quality.
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Quick takeaways
Pharmacy chains used contaminated factories, leading to drug recalls.
Store brand drugs lack oversight, raising concerns about quality and safety.
Deep dives
CVS Brand Recall Analysis by Bloomberg's Anna Edney
Bloomberg's Anna Edney analyzed FDA's recall reports for store brand drugs from CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart. CVS store brand drugs had more recalls than competitors. This raised concerns about the quality and safety of store brand drugs, highlighting potential risks in choosing cheaper alternatives.
Loopholes in Regulations for Store Brand Drugs
Store brand drugs from big pharmacies like CVS have less stringent regulations than name brands. They are considered private label distributors, allowing for potential quality issues. The responsibility for guaranteeing safety falls on the contract manufacturers, with pharmacies having less oversight and accountability.
Challenges in Ensuring Quality of Store Brand Drugs
Store brand drugs, unlike name brands, can vary in inactive ingredients that may impact effectiveness. The ultimate responsibility for quality lies with contract manufacturers, leading to reactive FDA inspections. Consumers are advised to be cautious when choosing store brand drugs due to potential safety concerns.
One factory making pain and fever medications for children used contaminated water. Another made drugs for kids that were too potent. A third made nasal sprays for babies on the same machines it used to produce pesticides. A new Bloomberg investigation reveals that big pharmacy chains have used cheaper, independent factories with a history of manufacturing violations to make store-brand drugs that compete with the likes of Motrin and Tums.
Today on the podcast, host David Gura speaks with national health care reporter Anna Edney about her new research into the factories making tainted drugs. She reveals that one pharmacy chain has had nearly double the recalls of its closest competitor – and the loophole that shielded all of these pharmacy chains from liability.