Allergan Stop Selling Some Breast Implants After Cancer Tie

Allergan Plc will stop selling some breast implants after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that textured implants had been associated with a rare type of blood cancer.

Allergan’s textured Biocell saline-filled and silicone-filled breast implants and tissue expanders will no longer be distributed or available around the world, Allergan said in a statement Wednesday. The company asked health-care providers to not use new Biocell implants and to return unused products.

The FDA hasn’t recommended removal or replacement of the implants in patients with no symptoms, Allergan said.

Textured implants have been associated with rare cases of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and regulators in the U.S. and other countries have raised concerns about the products. The recall doesn’t affect the company’s Natrelle smooth or Microcell implants and tissue expanders.

Allergan’s breast implant business accounted for $393.1 million, or 2.5%, of the company’s revenue in 2018, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The shares were down 0.4% to $161.26 at 10:06 a.m. in New York.

“Patient safety is a priority for Allergan,” the company said. “Patients are advised to speak to their plastic surgeon about the risks and benefits of their implant type should they have any concerns.”

The company’s implants were taken off the market in Europe last December after French authorities requested a recall. Allergan also pulled the product from the Canadian market in May.

Two weeks ago, Australia also suspended sales of textured breast implants made by Allergan, Johnson & Johnson and others.