Lipitor’s generic equivalent “Atorvastatin Calcium” has been recalled

More than 40 batches of Atorvastatin Calcium have been recalled after it’s manufacturer – Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc., found glass particles in the 10,20, and 40 milligram tablets of the anti-cholesterol drug.

“The recall is being conducted at the retail level for such select batches that may contain small glass particles approximately less than 1mm in size.  Ranbaxy is proactively recalling the drug product lots out of an abundance of caution, and in keeping the safety of our customers in mind.” said Ranbaxy’s U.S. subsidiary in a statement on its website.

In 2006 and 2008 the India-based Ranbaxy came under fire from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over conditions at two of the Indian plants.  In January of 2012 an agreement with the Justice Department cited the company for submitting false information to the FDA and barred them from manufacturing drugs for the American market.  Although, Ranbaxy said it was manufacturing the drug “with the full knowledge” of the FDA, which gave the company approval to manufacture the drug at a plant in New Jersey in 2011.