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Fourth Carcinogen Discovered in Heart Pills Used by Millions

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  • Pharmacy finds DMF in valsartan, adding to anxiety on recalls
  • Results raise questions on safety, oversight of supply chain
Valsartin
Valsartin

Source: Alamy Stock Photo

An online pharmacy told U.S. regulators it found another cancer-causing chemical in widely prescribed blood-pressure pills, raising new questions about a complex global web of companies that produces medicine for millions of people.

A solvent called dimethylformamide was discovered in the drug valsartan made by several companies, including Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG, according to a filing last week to the Food and Drug Administration by New Haven, Connecticut-based Valisure.