Supplies of some biotech drugs may be contaminated, FDA warns

ROCKVILLE, Md. Contaminants may have found their way into supplies of drugs made by biotech company Genzyme, the Food and Drug Administration warned Friday.

The FDA said particles of steel, non-latex rubber and fiber-like material may have contaminated supplies of the Gaucher disease drug Cerezyme (imiglucerase), the Fabry disease Fabrazyme (agalsidase beta), the Pompe disease drug Myozyme (alglucosidase alfa) and the thyroid cancer drug Thyrogen (thyrotropin alfa). The drugs are shipped in powder form and infused for administration by injection.

The FDA warned that injection of contaminated supplies of the drugs could include symptoms ranging from local pain to blood vessel damage and embolism.