For the second time in the last four months, pharmaceutical Bristol-Myers Squibb is announcing a major recall of its Avalide blood pressure tablets distributed on the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico.
On Thursday, the company announced it will be collecting 64 million tablets due to the potential for reduced effectiveness, Reuters reported. The medication was produced at Bristol’s plants in Humacao and Evansville, Indiana.
Bristol-Myers said the action was a “precautionary measure.
In September, the pharmaceutical — which jointly markets the drug with Sanofi-Aventis — recalled 62 lots, or 60 million tablets, of the drug manufactured in Puerto Rico.
Avalide, sold under the brand name Avapro, is one of Bristol-Myers’ blockbuster products, with $1.3 billion in sales in 2009.
Business reporter with 30 years of experience writing for weekly and daily newspapers, as well as trade publications in Puerto Rico. My list of former employers includes Caribbean Business, The San Juan Star, and the Puerto Rico Daily Sun, among others. My areas of expertise include telecommunications, technology, retail, agriculture, tourism, banking and most other segments of Puerto Rico’s economy.
“Through this alliance with the [Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida (PRCCCF)], the [Economic Development Bank (EDB)] will offer financing services of up to $1 million to companies referred to by the PRCCCF.
“This alliance represents a unique opportunity to promote business activity and economic development in Puerto Rico, while strengthening ties between the Puerto Rican diaspora and the island.
“The EDB and the PRCCCF are committed to working hand in hand to provide the necessary support to entrepreneurs who wish to contribute to the growth and prosperity of Puerto Rico.”
— Luis Alemañy-González, president of Puerto Rico’s Economic Development Bank (EDB)