J&J recalls injection pens

Johnson & Johnson is recalling a bad batch of injection pens manufactured at its Centocor Ortho Biotech unit in Horsham, Pa. This recall is the latest in a series for Johnson & Johnson, headquartered in New Brunswick, N.J., in recent weeks.

The pens are preloaded with Simponi, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. About 400 have been recalled, only 165 of them in the United States.

A Centocor representative said there is nothing wrong with the drug inside the pens, but a manufacturer’s defect may prevent a patient from getting the entire dose.

Monica Neufang of Centocor she said there is a built-in safety feature because the nature of arthritis makes it difficult for some patients to grip.

“The auto injector itself is designed to display a yellow indicator in the viewing window once the injection is complete,” she said. “If there is not an appearance of a yellow indicator, it means that the injection has not been fully dispensed. It’s very easy for a patient to see they achieved a full dose.”

She said patients should consult a doctor before trying again. Centocor said the supply will be replenished by the end of March.

Since December Johnson & Johnson has recalled four products including hernia devices and cracked syringes.