The Department of Health (DH) today (April 28) endorsed a licensed drug wholesaler, Hind Wing Co Ltd (Hind Wing), to recall a total of four batches of the following two products from the market as a precautionary measure due to the presence of an impurity in the products.
| Name of product | Hong Kong registration number | Batch number |
| Apo-Acyclovir Tablets 200mg | HK-43427 | RH9368 RH9370 |
| Apo-Acyclovir Tablets 800mg | HK-58228 | RP8516 RP8517 |
The DH received notification from Hind Wing today that the overseas manufacturer of the products is initiating a voluntary recall of the above batches due to the presence of a higher than accepted level of an impurity, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in the affected batches. NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen based on results from laboratory tests. As a precautionary measure, Hind Wing is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the market.
The above products are prescription medicines used for the treatment of herpes simplex. According to Hind Wing, the products have been imported into Hong Kong and supplied to local doctors, pharmacies and DH clinics.
Hind Wing has set up a hotline (2541 5731) to answer related enquiries.
"So far, the DH has not received any adverse reaction reports in connection with the products. The DH will closely monitor the recall," a spokesman for the DH said.
"Patients who are taking the above products should not stop taking the medicine, but should seek advice from their healthcare professionals as soon as possible for appropriate arrangements," the spokesman added.
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