Panadol Extra is Safe

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - 20th December 2005: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the manufacturer of the Panadol range of products, and Saudi International Trading Company (SITCO), the official distributor of Panadol in Saudi Arabia, would like to reassure the public that there are no safety concerns with Panadol Extra. Rumours currently circulating about batch number 050292 are false. 

The Ministry of Health Central Laboratory in Saudi Arabia and GlaxoSmithKline Laboratory in UK conducted laboratory analysis, and both confirm the safety of the product. The batch meets the high quality and registered standards for Panadol Extra; the product is genuine and can be safely used be consumers.

"Our consumers can be assured that Panadol is safe," said Pharmacist. Abdullah Abdulwahed, GSK Scientific Office Manager. "Analytical testing by the Saudi Arabia MOH Central Laboratory and GSK laboratory in UK confirms that Panadol conforms to all applicable standards. Panadol is a trusted analgesic, having been safely used by millions of people for many years."

This incident has been circulating through emails, SMS's and also through many articles that came in several local newspapers which unfortunately have been published without making sure of the veracity of the source of information. Hence, many statements alleged were inappropriate and misleading to the public and healthcare professionals causing avoidable hardship.

Accordingly, GlaxoSmithKline & SITCO Pharma would like to confirm the following facts and data regarding this issue:

  • This batch referred to is a genuine Panadol Extra product and not smuggled as alleged in some articles.

  • Samples of this batch were collected by the MOH from the customs at Riyadh dry port and sent to the MOH laboratory for analysis.

  • MOH communicated to the company that the tested samples from this batch did not pass the analysis parameters and did not meet the standard of the product specifications. GSK & SITCO responded immediately. All attempts were made to isolate this batch & freeze sale.

  • Samples of the above batch were sent to the company's manufacturing site in Ireland/UK for retesting. The results of the analysis proved that the product is absolutely of high quality standards and that it is fit for human use.

    Based on the above the company sent an official letter to the Ministry of Health asking them to take another set of samples for retesting.

  • The Ministry of Health collected samples of the quarantined batch from SITCO Warehouse for retesting purpose at the Central Laboratory of the Ministry of Health in Riyadh. The results of the retesting confirmed that Panadol Extra Batch No.: 050292 meets the high quality standards as stipulated & can be safely used by the consumers in Saudi Arabia.

  • The Central Laboratory confirmed the samples that were initially analysed were kept in unknown storage conditions for 14 days before reaching the Ministry of Health Laboratory. This may have led to the wrong results & subsequent conclusions.

    GlaxoSmithKline & SITCO take the rumours very seriously indeed and have started investigations into their source. Appropriate action will be taken against those responsible for causing unnecessary hardship & panic.

    As a global pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline has extremely robust manufacturing standards. Panadol is manufactured and imported under stringent safety and quality standards.

    Panadol is the trusted widely used Analgesic/Antipyretic worldwide since more than 50 years and it is the preferred OTC medicine for millions of people for pain and fever relief for its known excellent efficacy and safety profile when used as advised on the pack and insert leaflet.

    GlaxoSmithKline & SITCO are always careful about the high quality standards of their products & work very closely with MOH authorities to ensure compliance & customer care.

    We trust that the Saudi residents will give attention to the above and are reassured that all these misleading rumours against a brand that is widely used & trusted for many years will be a thing of the past.

    -Ends-

    For more information please contact:
    GlaxoSmithKline Scientific Office Manager
    P.O.Box 309
    Riyadh 11411
    Fax No.: 01 4653185

    • © Press Release 2005