Allergy injectors recalled on possible dosing error
BRIDGEWATER, New Jersey — Sanofi is recalling hundreds of thousands of epinephrine injectors in North America used to treat severe allergic reactions because they may not deliver the correct amount of the lifesaving drug.
The recall includes all Auvi-Q injections currently on the U.S. market, or roughly 490,000 packs of the devices, the company said. Most packs include two injectors.
The company’s Canadian subsidiary, Sanofi-aventis Canada, announced it was recalling all Allerject products in Canada for the same reason. “As of Oct 26, 2015, Sanofi US and Canada have received 26 reports of suspected device malfunctions from an estimated 2,784,000 units distributed in North America,” the Canadian company said.
“Specifically, in Canada, nine suspected device malfunctions were reported out of an estimated 492,000 units distributed.”
It said none of these device malfunction reports have been confirmed, but patients had described symptoms of the underlying hypersensitivity reaction.
“No fatal outcomes have been reported among these cases,” it said.
Sanofi’s product competes with Mylan’s EpiPen, which is a staple of first-aid care. Both products are used to treat allergic reactions caused by insect bites and stings, foods, medicines or other substances.