Sanofi pulls cough mixtures after phenol detected

Drug major Sanofi Aventis has recalled three of its cough syrup mixtures in France after traces of phenol were found in the products.

The withdrawn products, Rhinatiol, Bronkirex and Carbocistene, were pulled after a patient detected an “unusual odour.”

While Sanofi has yet to issue a statement on the recall, a Retuers report suggested that phenol levels were “well below a dangerous level,” and that the move was a precautionary measure.

While relatively small scale, the recall comes at a busy time for Sanofi, which is trying to both restructure its R&D operations and defend the safety of its diabetes drug Lantus.