Benzalkonium chloride
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
FDA should not clear the ingredient for chronic use in health care antiseptic drug products due to a lack of data demonstrating long-term safety, Lonza's counsel says in an Aug. 3 letter. Responding to a citizen petition filed by International Laboratory Technology Corp. requesting GRAS/E status for the ingredient in OTC topical antimicrobial products, Lonza notes the agency has required data on chronic toxicity for a number of ingredients evaluated in the health care antiseptic drug products monograph, but the studies submitted by ILTC do not address long-term use. FDA currently considers benzalkonium chloride (.11%-.13%) a Category III ingredient - data insufficient to demonstrate safety/efficacy - except for short-term use (1"The Tan Sheet" April 24, p. 9)