Sharp increase in pharma emergencies

The first half of 2003 saw a sharp rise in the number of product emergencies involving pharmaceuticals dealt with by RSSL Pharma's Emergency Response Service (ERS). This represents approximately 43% of the total of 280 cases investigated by the ERS compared with only 26% for food products and 16% for drinks - the first time in 13 years that pharmaceutical investigations have outstripped food and drink. Other consumer goods, such as personal hygiene products, account for the remainder.

The ERS investigates a wide range of product crisis incidents, including accidental contamination, extortion threat, malicious tampering and serious customer complaint, across all kinds of consumable goods. Member companies have 24-hour-a-day immediate access to the analytical expertise offered by scientists at RSSL Pharma. The skills available include microscopy, chemistry, microbiology and molecular biology. RSSL Pharma also provides access to a network of other experts who can help product managers decide on the best response to take to a product emergency. 'Investigation of foreign body incidents and problems with raw materials/excipients, tablets, capsules, liquids and inhalers appear to account for the majority of the increase from the pharmaceutical sector,' says Dr Graham Pettipher, who heads the ERS. 'It's encouraging that pharmaceutical manufacturers are reacting immediately to the problems that come to their attention. Pharmaceutical manufacturers make up less than 20% of the membership, yet they account for nearly 50% of our case-load

'Assuming there has been no significant increase in actual incidents, it seems likely that the increase represents a commendable desire by the pharmaceutical industry to act responsibly and address its problems with the utmost urgency.'