Europe pulls Viracept license

European Union regulators have suspended Swiss pharma company Roche's license to sell the HIV drug Viracept (nelfinavir) because of continuing concerns about contamination with toxic ethyl mesilate.

Roche halted European Viracept sales in June due to an investigation by the European Commission, essentially the executive branch of the EU. "The suspension could only be lifted by a further decision by the Commission, after the evaluation of new data given by the Agency," according to a European Commission statement.

The move does not affect U.S. sales of the drug, which is marketed here by Pfizer.

To learn more:
- Check out this report from France 24. Article

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