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Something you bought was just recalled. What does that mean?

What happens when something you purchase is recalled? Is it voluntary or mandatory? And what does it mean for you?

A New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company recalled over 100,000 bottles of statin due to “failed dissolution specifications,” according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Ascend Laboratories in Bedminster initiated the recall of Atorvastatin Calcium, a generic version of Lipitor, manufactured by Alkem Laboratories of India and distributed nationwide. The recall was issued in September with an update Oct. 14 and is for 141,984 bottles.

Statins treat high cholesterol and prevent heart disease.

The specific affected products include:

  • Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 10 mg, Rx Only a) 90-count bottle (NDC 67877-511-90), b). 500-count bottle (NDC 67877-511-05), c). 1000-count bottle (NDC 67877-511-10) Manufactured by: Alkem Laboratories, Ltd. India, Distributed by: Ascend Laboratories, LLC, Parsippany, NJ 07054.Lot#: 25141249, Exp. Feb. 2027 Lot#: 24144938, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144868, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144867, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144458, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24143994, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24142987, Exp. July 2026 Lot#: 24143316, Exp. July 2026
  • Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 40 mg, Rx Only, a). 90-count (NDC 67877-513-90), b). 500-count (NDC 67877-513-05), c). 1000-count (NDC 67877-513-10), Manufactured by: Alkem Laboratories, Ltd. India, Distributed by: Ascend Laboratories, LLC, Parsippany, NJ 07054.Lot#: 25140933, Exp. Feb. 2027 Lot#: 25140477, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot#: 24144254, Exp. Oct. 2026 Lot#: 24144163, Exp. Sep. 2026 Lot#: 24143995, Exp. Sep. 2026
  • Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 20 mg, Rx Only, a). 90-count(NDC 67877-512-90), b). 500-count (NDC 67877-512-05), c). 1000-count(NDC 67877-512-10),Manufactured by: Alkem Laboratories, Ltd. India, Distributed by: Ascend Laboratories, LLC, Parsippany, NJ 07054.Lot #: 25140150, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 25140173, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 25140172, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot #: 24144720, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot #: 24144798, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot #: 24144692, Exp. Oct. 2026 Lot #: 24143755, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot #: 24143913, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot #: more…
  • Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets USP, 80 mg, Rx Only, a). 90-count(NDC 67877-514-90), b). 500-count(NDC 67877-514-05), Manufactured by: Alkem Laboratories, Ltd. India, Distributed by: Ascend Laboratories, LLC, Parsippany, NJ 07054Lot#: 25140249, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot#: 25140247, Exp. Dec. 2026 Lot#: 24144999, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144942, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144845, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144713, Exp. Nov. 2026 Lot#: 24144652, Exp. Oct. 2026 Lot#: 24143898, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot#: 24143412, Exp. Aug. 2026 Lot#: 24143582, Exp. Aug. 2026

Contact your pharmacist or prescriber if you may have one of the impacted products.

Ascend Labs was started in the early 2000s as a product development company, according to its website. The company’s old head office was in Parsippany.

“… Today Ascend is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alkem taking advantage of Alkem’s strong infrastructure and R&D to fuel growth from being a strong startup to an important generic manufacturer and provider suppling it’s now over 100 SKU’s to Hospitals, Pharmacies and Wholesalers thought the USA,” the website states.

USA TODAY contributed to this article.