FDA finds likely carcinogen in the common diabetes drug metformin. Will recalls follow?

On the hunt for drugs contaminated with a likely carcinogen, the FDA initially tested and cleared generic diabetes med metformin. But now, after an independent lab challenged those findings, the FDA has identified that carcinogen in the widely used med, and broad recalls could be in the offing. 

The FDA found carcinogen contamination in extended release formulations of metformin, supporting outside laboratory Valisure’s findings in early March, a spokesman said Thursday. 

Tested lots of extended-release metformin showed levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)—a likely human carcinogen that’s led to recalls of “sartan” blood pressure drugs and the heartburn remedy Zantac—above acceptable limits, the FDA said. Those elevated levels weren’t found in samples of metformin’s immediate-release formula. 

The FDA is contacting companies that sell extended release metformin with NDMA levels that surpass the acceptable limit, a spokesman said. The agency declined to comment on whether recalls are likely for those products. 

The agency’s newest findings come months after the FDA found no instances of NDMA contamination during generic metformin testing. 

RELATED: Testing lab challenges FDA findings that carcinogens in metformin do not exceed acceptable levels