A batch of Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets has been recalled due to a ‘microbial contamination’, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has said.

The action is being taken by Aspen Pharma Trading Limited as a ‘precautionary measure’ following a small number of complaints of ‘discoloured tablets’ within the packs which have been identified by healthcare professionals on opening.

The MHRA said in a Class 2 medicines recall today that the contamination had been confirmed as ‘Penicillium Kongii’.

It is affecting batch number P0010384 of Mercaptopurine 50mg tablets – used for the treatment of acute leukaemia – in a pack size of 25 and first distributed on 8 January 2025.

Pharmacists and other health professionals have been told to stop supplying the batch immediately and quarantine all remaining stock and return to the supplier.

The MHRA added that patients or carers should check to see if they have received tablets from the listed batch of Mercaptopurine 50 mg tablets by looking for the batch number on the label of the medicine.

The tablets should be a ‘pale yellow colour and are marked with ‘PT / 50’ and patients have been told to contact their relevant healthcare professional if their tablets are discoloured in any way.

Patients should not stop taking their medication without discussing this with their specialist or prescriber as there may be a need for additional monitoring and if an adverse reaction is experienced patients should seek medical attention, the alert added. Any suspected adverse reactions should also be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

In March, almost 120,000 packs of Boots Paracetamol were recalled because of a packaging error where they were incorrectly labelled as Aspirin on the foil blister.

For all medical information enquiries and information on this product pharmacists can email [email protected] or telephone 01748 828391. For stock control enquiries please email [email protected]