J&J delayed reporting insulin pump problems

Federal regulators have warned Johnson & Johnson (J&J) that it could face fines and other sanctions for selling faulty insulin pumps and delaying disclosures of serious injuries to diabetics who used them.

The Food and Drug Adminis-tration (FDA) ordered J&J's Animas Corp unit to promptly provide a plan to rectify its failure to report within 30 days cases where its device may have caused or contributed to death or serious injury.

In a warning letter sent to Animas on December 27 and posted online by FDA on Tuesday, the agency wrote that inspectors found Animas, which is based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, never reported on one case of serious patient injury and delayed reporting on two others. Those patients were hospitalised with dangerously high blood sugar, respiratory failure and coma, and a life-threatening complication called diabetic ketoacidosis that is caused by lack of insulin to break down blood sugar.

Insulin pumps, which are about the size of a cellphone, automatically inject small amounts of insulin throughout the day to keep diabetics' blood sugar at a safe level. Patients programme the device to inject additional insulin right before a meal or snack, according to the amount of carbohydrates about to be eaten.

At least some of the cases involve keypads on the insulin pumps, used to control how much insulin they push into the bloodstream, not working properly because of deterioration or patient confusion or error.

The warning follows a string of nearly 30 product recalls announced by Johnson & Johnson since September 2009. This included millions of bottles of non-prescription medicines for children and adults, prescription drugs for seizures and HIV, faulty hip implants and contact lenses that stung the eyes.

The letter states that the initial response from Animas to the problems detailed in the inspection report was not adequate. It gives the company, part of New Brunswick, New Jersey-based J&J, 15 business days to respond.

"We are dedicated to quickly resolving the FDA's outstanding concerns," Animas spokeswoman Caroline Pavis wrote in response to questions from The Associated Press.

She noted the FDA warning letter "did not request the removal or replacement of our products in the hands of patients, and the letter does not prohibit us from manufacturing and shipping products".