China's drug watchdog has suspended sales of two more batches of
methotrexate made by Shanghai Hualian Pharmaceutical as it
continues its month-long investigation of the drug.
Methotrexate, an effective drug often used to treat acute
leukemia and rheumatoid arthritis, could have side effects of
headache and minor paralysis.
The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) suspended sales of
the methotrexate batches numbered 070405B and 070502B because of
potential risks to users.
The drug made by Shanghai Huanlian caused adverse reactions in
several child leukemia patients in three hospitals of Guangxi
Zhuang Autonomous Region and Shanghai early this month.
Some of the children felt pain in their legs and some
experienced difficulty in walking after being injected with the
drug from batches numbered 070403A and 070403B which have since
been suspended.
SFDA deputy director Wu Zhen promised to keep the public
informed about the state of the investigation after the watchdog
announced the first suspension.
The SFDA has ordered the local food and drug administrations in
Guangxi and Shanghai to reevaluate the drugs.
According to WHO statistics, there have been 12,502 reports of
adverse reactions to methotrexate worldwide.
(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2007)