Rooting out drug contamination

Drug contamination is a persistent problem, and one where it seems like the harder we look, the more we will find. In the last month, Chemistry World has reported on cases that run the gamut from deadly chemical contamination in cough syrups to bacterial contamination in eye drops and nitrosamine contamination resulting from degradation in diabetes medicines.

Meanwhile, a probe by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism has uncovered a host of quality problems with supplies of enzyme-based leukaemia medicine asparaginase, which pose serious risks to patients and have probably contributed to deaths.