Valsartan
Valsartan is prescribed to treat high blood pressure, and is in a class of drugs called Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers. In addition to treating high blood pressure in an effort to prevent heart attacks and strokes, the drug may be used in patients that have heart failure or have recently suffered a heart attack.
In 2018, many generic forms of Valsartan were found to be contaminated with nitrosamines, known to be probable carcinogens, or cancer-causing substances. The companies responsible for manufacturing contaminated medication continued to do so after repeated alerts and warnings from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, many of which led to recalls and expanded recalls of the medications.
Cancer is not generally a known side effect of valsartan. However, NDMA-contaminated valsartan may be associated with cancer because of nitrosamines, which are known to cause cancer.
Other impurities in these medications have led to recalls as recently as June 1, 2021, when Health Canada recalled over 200 lots due to contamination with a cancer-causing agent.