Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) said legislation she introduced would have increased transparency surrounding a pharmaceutical ingredient that could cause cancer, but the bill was not advanced out of the House.

Now, a certain diabetes medication has been found to have high levels of the cancer-causing ingredient.

House Bill (HB) 1721 would have required prescription drug manufacturers to notify the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) about certain active ingredients. Mazzochi introduced the legislation in February 2021, and the bill picked up several co-sponsors but never advanced out of the House.

On Aug. 9, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that certain samples of the Merck diabetes drugs Januvia and Janumet are contaminated with higher than acceptable levels of Nitroso-STG-19, also known as NTTP; Reuters reported. NTTP is a nitrosamine, which is classified as a possible or probable carcinogen.

The FDA said it would allow Merck to continue distributing the medications in order to avoid a shortage.

"We remain confident in the safety, efficacy and quality of our sitagliptin-containing medicines," a Merck spokesperson said.

"The FDA announced this week that samples of a compound in certain Merck diabetes medications were contaminated with higher than allowable levels of nitrosamine, which is an ingredient that can potentially cause cancer," Mazzochi said in a Thursday Facebook post. 

"Last year, I introduced House Bill 1721, which would require drug manufacturers to notify IDPH of specific information concerning active ingredients in prescription drugs sold, distributed, or placed on formularies in Illinois," she continued. "This includes a provision requiring manufacturers report certain drugs with active pharmaceutical ingredients containing nitrosamine. HB 1721 had bipartisan support and passed out of committee unanimously, but House Democratic leadership killed this legislation that would have protected Illinois consumers. It’s disappointing that bipartisan legislation that would have helped Illinoisans make more informed decisions on such an important matter is languishing in Rules Committee."

Mazzochi resides in Elmhurst and was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018, the Illinois House said. A Republican, her legislative experience includes serving on the Housing Committee and Judiciary – Civil.