§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he received the latest report on the drug Cimetidine, relating to stomach cancer, from the Committee on Safety of Medicines; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe Committee on Safety of Medicines reviewed in 1980 the scientific evidence on the hypothesis that Cimetidine might be associated with cancer of the stomach, and concluded that Cimetidine should remain available for the approved indications for use. The committee is continuing to monitor research in this field and is aware of the recent report in theBritish Medical Journal, the authors of which did not consider that their evidence supported such an association.