Japanese authorities raided a drug factory on Saturday after the drugmaker reported at least five deaths and 114 hospitalizations possibly linked to the dietary supplement.
About a dozen Japanese health officials entered Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's Osaka factory, as seen in footage of the raid that was widely aired on Japanese news.
The health supplement in question is a pink pill called “Benikoji Choleste Help.'' It is said to have the effect of lowering cholesterol levels. An important raw material is Koji, a type of red mold.
The company says little is known about the causes of diseases such as kidney failure. We are currently working with the Japanese government to investigate the impact.
medicine timeline
Red mallow has been used in several medicines for many years, but reports of health problems surfaced in 2023.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical recalled the tablets on March 22, two months after receiving reports that they were causing health problems. President Akihiro Kobayashi apologized for not responding sooner.
The drug company said it has sold more than 1 million packages of tablets in the past three fiscal years. This over-the-counter drug was also sold by other manufacturers.
Japan's Ministry of Health said the supplements were to blame for the deaths and illnesses and warned that the number of people affected could rise further.
mk/sms (AP, Reuters)
