The Ontario coroner's office is now investigating five deaths amid allegations that a Hamilton pharmacy dispensed counterfeit pills in place of the heart medication Norvasc.

Last week, RCMP and the Ontario College of Pharmacists seized drugs and records from King West Pharmacy in the southwestern Ontario city.

The raid came after a customer noticed that three of her bottles of Norvasc appeared to contain different pills. The patient alerted the drug's manufacturer, Pfizer, which confirmed that some of the pills were not Norvasc.




Norvasc is used to treat hypertension, high blood pressure and certain types of angina.

On Wednesday, regional coroner Dr. David Eden said his office was reviewing the deaths of two people who were taking Norvasc purchased from the pharmacy.

By Thursday morning, that number had increased to five.

The RCMP and the Ontario College of Pharmacists are now trying to contact everyone who filled Norvasc prescriptions at the pharmacy.

Pharmacy to stay open

In another development Thursday, the Ontario Superior Court approved a plan to keep the pharmacy operating with a new manager and a total change of inventory.

The Ontario College of Pharmacists had been seeking a court injunction to close the business while the investigation continues.

The college withdrew the injunction request Thursday, after the pharmacy's mortgage holder said it would hire a new pharmacist to manage the location, as well as replace the business's current supply of drugs.

The College's deputy registrar Della Croteau says she's happy with the arrangement.

"In this way, it's both protecting the public, while still ensuring that those patients at King West Pharmacy can continue to receive medications," said Croteau.

The college has begun disciplinary action against the pharmacy's owner and one of its employees. No criminal charges have been laid.