How Did Carcinogenic Generic Pill Get Past the FDA?

An estimated 80% of all active ingredients in medications are made in China and India. However, US authorities rarely inspect overseas plants.

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

• Since 2018, the carcinogenic compound NDMA has been found in several different drugs, including three blood pressure medications (valsartan, losartan and irbesartan), two heartburn medications (Zantac and Axid) and the diabetes drug metformin

• In the case of valsartan, three companies whose drugs were recalled in 2018 had all purchased th…