AstraZeneca made Eliquis recalled in US says Bristol Myers-Squibb

B-MS announced the recall on June 10 explaining it pulled one lot of the anticoagulant Eliquis (apixaban) - number #HN0063 - after a customer found 2.5mg strength tablets in a bottle labelled as containing 5mg tablets.

A B-MS spokeswoman told us “For the lot recalled, we work with AstraZeneca as a contract manufacturer for Eliquis.​”

She also said "There will be no change to our relationship with AstraZeneca as a contract manufacturer for Eliquis​."

Earlier this week, B-MS told us despite a thorough investigation “no definitive root cause for the issue could be determined.​"

The US drug manufacturer also told us "No shortages are likely​" adding "there is adequate product supply to meet patient demand.​" 

An AstraZeneca spokeswoman told us the firm "has been working with BMS on the Eliquis recall."​

She added that: "Patient safety is a top priority for AstraZeneca and we are taking the appropriate course of action with BMS and with the knowledge of the FDA.​"

Tablet mix up​

The recall is the second involving incorrectly packaged tablets in which AstraZeneca has been involved in as many months.

On May 25​, the Anglo-Swedish drug manufacturer pulled one Lot of Brilinta (ticagrelor) – a blood thinner like Eliquis – after a sample bottle was found to contain its gout treatment Zurampic (lesinurad).

An AstraZeneca spokeswoman told us Eliquis and Brilinta are made at different sites and that the incidents that prompted the recalls "are not related.​"