British Government Launches Investigation of PIP Implants
UK Health Secretary Andrew Lansley launched an investigation in to breast implants made by the now-bankrupt French Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) on 31 December, saying that he wants to "reassure women […] that we will act swiftly to help them."
Some 40,000 British women have the implants, which reports have claimed are rupturing at excessively high rates. Britain's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is now slated to re-review the device and associated safety data.
The French regulatory authority, AFSSAPS, has outlined several issues with the breast implants, including the use of unapproved, industrial grade silicone and a higher-than-anticipated rupture rate.
- (PharmaPro - "UK to investigate French-made breast implants")
- (Reuters - "Regulators had not approved most PIP implants: lawyer")