Four of the eight companies that have been asked to revoke drugs made using the China-produced component Valsartan by the Drug Administration of Viet Nam are listed on the stock exchange.

The companies are Domesco Medical Impor-Export JSC (Domesco), Cuu Long Pharmaceutical JSC, Central Pharmaceutical JSC 2 (Dopharma) and Pymepharco JSC.

Valsartan is a raw material produced by the China-based Zhejian Huahai Pharmaceutical Company. It has been reported to contain a compound known as NDMA that can cause cancer.

The latest order follows decisions made by the European Union Medicines Agency (EMA), Canada and several other countries to revoke all drugs containing Valsartan from the market.

Domesco (DMC), Cuu Long Pharmaceutical (DCL) and Pymepharco (PME) are listed on the HCM Stock Exchange, while Dopharma (DP2) is trading on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM).

DMC and DP2 ended Tuesday flat at VND82,900 (US$3.68) and VND9,100, respectively, while DCL and PME fell 0.7 per cent each to close at VND13,900 and VND70,000. — VNS