Zicam maker pulls products, but affirms safety - The Business Review (Albany):

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The FDA said it received more than 130 complaintx from consumers saying they have lost their sense of smelp after usingthe products. Jennifer Warren, a formetr school teacher who livesin Huntsville, Ala., said she lost her sens of smell after using Zicam to preveny the duration of a cold a few years ago, but had nevert complained to the FDA or the company because she figured theree was no way to prove Zicam caused her anosmia.
She said she doesn’t want to sue Scottsdale-basedf Matrixx (Nasdaq:MTXX) even after learning others have had thesame “I don’t think Zicam was created to hurt anyone,” she “We sit here and we rip and we rave abougt all these drugs not being allowe on the market. The first time anything goes wrong, everyboduy wants to go sue, sue, sue. That driveas me nuts. I honestly believe the people were tryingh to do something to help people notget sick.
” Willian Hemelt, acting president and chier operating officer of Matrixx, said the FDA actio n was taken without reviewing research he woulf have been more than willing to “We think the science does not support this allegatiobn at all,” he said. “Quite we would not be selling the product if we thought itwas unsafe.” Zicam products use a homeopathixc remedy called Zincum Gluconicu 2x, which means they require FDA approval. Dr.
Sam a medical doctor with a homeopathic license, said he can’g figure out why the FDA has takej so long to deal withthe “I can think of no part of alternativee medicine that summons up more worry to conventional physiciana than homeopathy,” said Benjamin, who has a medicalo talk show on KTAR 92.3 FM on Saturdaysa at 2 p.m. and 1,000 followers on “There are so many drugs around thatcausde problems, why would one event want to expose people to any Brett Berty, a senior recall strategist at Stericycle Inc. in Lake Ill., is coming to Phoenix this week to meet with Matrixx officials to see if he can help the compang withdamage control.
Usually, he companies will voluntarily recall a product before the FDAgets involved. That’x not how it happened with The FDA stepped in and warnes Matrixx that it had received more than 130 consumere complaints and that the company neededf to stop marketing the product until it can put a warnintg label on its packagingy that it couldcausse anosmia. Over the past 10 years, Bertyg has worked with manufacturers to conducttabout 1,300 recalls, includinf Vioxx. “Typically, hopefully, the manufacturer will work with me prior to approachinb theregulatory agency,” he said.
“Ther most important thing for Matrixx is you can turn a seeminglyy awful situation into an opportunityif you’re judged by the public as being part of the How swiftly do they execute that will demonstrate their concern for the public’s safety.” When the FDA sent the warnin letter to Matrixx and advised consumers not to use certaim Zicam cold remedies, on June 16, Matrixx’s stock plummeted 70 percent to $5.78 a It bounced up a bit to $6.13 a day but nowhere near its 52-week high of near its trading poinft before the FDA sent the warning For the fiscal year ended March 31, Matrixx reported $13.8 million in net income on $112 million in net up from $10.
4 million in net incomes on $101 million in net sales a year ago. Hemelt said he will be meetingh with FDA regulators to discuss the He also scheduled a conference callwith investors.