Abbott Recalls Synthroid Lots Over Container Defects

By Peter Loftus

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) has recalled three lots of the thyroid-hormone replacement therapy Synthroid because some bottles had defects that could affect the stability of the tablets.

Abbott initiated the voluntary recall in July in letters to wholesale customers. In one letter, Abbott said it was taking the "precautionary action because a low number of Synthroid bottles have a localized thin wall defect on the bottom of the bottle which may potentially impact the stability of Synthroid tablets."

The letter asked wholesalers and distributors to cease selling and distributing the affected lots, and to notify any pharmacies that may have received them.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted a notice about the Synthroid recall on its website this week. The FDA notice suggested that more than 136,500 bottles of Synthroid were subject to the recall.

An Abbott spokesman declined immediate comment.

The FDA listed the event as a Class II recall, which is typically applied in situations where a product might cause a temporary health problem or pose only a slight threat of a serious health problem.

Synthroid is a synthetic thyroid hormone used by people with hypothyroidism, in which the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough natural thyroid hormone.

Abbott reported $304 million of Synthroid sales for the first half of 2012.

Abbott shares rose 71 cents to $71.49 Friday afternoon.

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Abbott Recalls Synthroid Lots Over Container Defects