Health Ministry Orders Recall of Potentially Dangerous Drug IMAAVY

Israel's Ministry of Health has ordered the urgent recall of the drug IMAAVY due to the risk of glass particles in certain batches. Johnson & Johnson, the distributor of IMAAVY in Israel, initiated the withdrawal, which has been approved by the Ministry of Health. The recall affects specific batches supplied to medical facilities, prompted by potential glass particle contamination originating from the manufacturing process.

The Ministry of Health has instructed medical institutions to cease using the affected batches, isolate existing supplies, and return them to the distributor, SLA, for a refund. IMAAVY is a prescription medication used to treat generalized myasthenia gravis in adults and adolescents aged 12 and older who have antibodies to acetylcholine receptors or muscle-specific tyrosine kinase.

While the primary concern with the recalled batches is the potential for microscopic glass particles to enter the bloodstream, Ministry of Health officials stated that the withdrawal of these specific batches should not cause a shortage of the drug in Israel. This recall follows previous warnings issued by the Ministry of Health regarding other health products, including the weight-loss supplement "G-Slim" and the epilepsy medication "Sabril" (500mg dosage), both deemed potentially dangerous.