Cummings Demands Answers In Tylenol Hearing

Cummings Demands Answers In Tylenol Hearing

Congressman joins Committee in investigation into drug recall.

(Washington, DC) – Calling the safety precautions taken by pharmaceutical giant McNeil Consumer Healthcare, “a culture of mediocrity,” Congressman Elijah Cummings (MD-7) today questioned the head of McNeil’s parent company, Johnson and Johnson, as well as investigators and other members of the Food and Drug Administration.

During a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Cummings first interviewed Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Principal Deputy Commissioner of the FDA, before moving to Ms. Colleen Goggins, Worldwide Chairman of Johnson and Johnson Consumer Group.

The hearing was called to investigate the April 30 recall of over 40 varieties of over-the-counter (OTC) infant’s and children’s liquid medicines by Johnson and Johnson.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspection uncovered problems surrounding the quality, purity and potency of these products.  It is estimated that 70 percent of the market for OTC pediatric liquid medicines were involved in this recall. It was the third recall made by McNeil in the last eight months due to quality problems.

“These recalls are indicative of a broader and more systematic problem that has led to the largest recall of children’s medicine in the history of the FDA,” said Cummings, in his prepared statement. “They have a powerful control of 70 percent of the market for OTC liquid medicines.  With great power comes great responsibility. I do not believe Johnson & Johnson has taken their responsibility seriously. These drugs are not safe.  These are medicines that are supposed to make our children feel better. They are medicines that are supposed to relieve them from pain, not cause additional strife.”

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