Germany. The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices has announced the results of analyses performed on samples from 4 batches of the cosmetic products Psorigon Body Lotion and Psorigon Skin Regenerator (Curapharm) that were withdrawn because they were suspected of containing undeclared amounts of the cortisone derivative, clobetasol, and the retinoid, tretinoin.

The results of these analyses did not confirm the presence of clobetasol. However, the results for tretinoin were:

Psorigon Body Lotion

lot 87-202/03 EU

sample taken from a wholesaler on 9.11.98: 16.1 mg/100 g
sample taken from another wholesaler on 19.11.98: 19.0 mg/100 g

batch no. 84-202/02 EU

18.0 mg/100 g

batch no. 070912 (label)

17.9 mg/100 g

Psorigon Skin Regenerator, Skin Repair plus C

production batch 85-201/05 C

98.1 mg/100 g.

[See also Alert No. 74 dated 24 November 1998 and Pharmaceuticals Newsletter Nos. 9&10, September & October 1998]

Reference: Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, EU/EEA/PIC Urgent Information, 7 January 1999.