Recent FDA action may exacerbate some drug shortages. The agency inspected a manufacturing facility in Punjab, India, operated by the giant drug company Ranbaxy. Inspectors found so many shortcomings in quality control that they have banned further imports from this plant until the deficits are corrected.
Since other Ranbaxy manufacturing facilities were already covered by a consent decree due to fraud, forgery and failure of good manufacturing practices, this puts the firm in a difficult position. Its production of medications such as the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin, the antibiotic doxycycline and the anti-anxiety agent lorazepam will be set back for some time.
