Lifesaving device recalled

Mylan New Zealand has recalled two batches of its EpiPen 300-microgram Adrenaline Auto-Injectors, used to treat allergic emergencies. Mylan has warned that some EpiPens, in batches 5FA665 and 5FA6652, did not work or required extra force to work. The defect affects 80,000 of the lifesaving devices that automatically inject 300mcg of adrenaline into patients when they have an anaphylactic reaction. Nearly 1800 of the EpiPens have been sold in New Zealand. Mylan said EpiPens that had an expiry date in April 2017 or correlated with the batch numbers should be returned to a pharmacy for a free replacement. EpiPens are not a funded medicine in New Zealand and cost between $100 to $200. An estimated 12,000 to 13,000 New Zealanders use them.