Kobayashi factory searched over deaths possibly linked to supplements (updated)

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical

30/03/2024 06:24

(Adds Kobayashi comment in paragraph 4, background in
paragraphs 8, 9, 12)
       TOKYO, March 30 (Reuters) - Japanese health officials
searched a Kobayashi Pharmaceutical  4967.T  factory on Saturday
after the drugmaker reported five deaths possibly linked to
dietary supplements using red yeast rice, an official said.
    The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the City of
Osaka jointly inspected the factory in Osaka that had made the
supplements containing "Beni-Koji" red yeast, suspected of
having caused health damage, the ministry official said.
    News footage showed officials entering the factory, and the
official said the ministry could search other related locations.
The factory, which made the product until December, had been
closed due to ageing facilities, Japanese media said.
    The Osaka-based company could not immediately be reached for
comment. Yuko Tomiyama, head of Kobayashi's investor relations,
told public broadcaster NHK the firm intends to sincerely deal
with the matter and fully cooperate with the investigation.
    Kobayashi said on Friday it was investigating a suspected
link between the products and their effects on the kidney since
it received reports of kidney disease linked to the products.
    As of Thursday evening, 114 people had been hospitalised and
five had died after taking the supplements, which were marketed
as helping lower cholesterol levels, according to the company.
    Kobayashi said it is examining the earnings impact of the
latest issues.
    Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi
criticised the company on Tuesday for its slow response, saying
it was regrettable that Kobayashi took two months to announce
the health impacts of its products.
    The company has been recalling products with Beni-Koji in
recent days after receiving reports of kidney ailments. Its
products are also consumed in places such as China, and Japanese
media said a case of acute renal failure had been reported in
Taiwan.
    A Chinese consumers association urged consumers to stop
using affected products, saying it was concerned about the risk
of Kobayashi products, state media reported on Friday.
    Beni-Koji contains Monascus purpureus, a red mould that is
also used as a red colouring in some foods. 
    Puberulic acid - a potent antibacterial and antimalarial
agent that can be produced from blue mould and can be toxic -
was confirmed in a batch of the products that caused health
complaints, Japanese media said.

 (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by William Mallard)
 ((Makiko.Yamazaki@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-4563-2805;))