India News Today: Substandard Drugs Discovered by Central Drug Standards Control Organisation

Central Drug Standards Control Organisation Discovers Substandard Drugs

NEW DELHI: More than 50 drugs being sold in the market that are prescribed for common conditions such as high blood pressure, acid reflux, and erectile dysfunction have been found to be not-of-standard quality by Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) in its latest survey. CDSCO, the apex body responsible for approval of new drugs and clinical trials, has issued an alert saying such drugs are being freely sold in the market.

Findings of the Latest Survey

According to its latest data, last month, certain batches of more than 50 drugs manufactured by various companies were found to be not-of-standard quality. This included drugs sold by leading companies.

• A specific batch of Pulmosil (Sildenafil injection) manufactured by Sun Pharmaceuticals was found to be of non-standard quality. The company, however, claimed in its response to CDSCO that the tainted batch of the product was not manufactured by it and that it was a spurious drug.
• A specific batch of Pantocid, commonly used for acid reflux and indigestion, manufactured by the same company was also found to be spurious.
• One particular batch of Telma H (Telmisartan 40mg and Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg tablets IP), a combination of two medicines used to control blood pressure, manufactured by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals was discovered to be non-standard. Glenmark, too, claimed the particular batch was not made by it.
• One batch of Amoxicillin and Potassium Clavulanate tablets IP (Clavam 625) manufactured by Alkem Health Science, another leading pharmaceutical company, also failed to meet the standards.

Public concerns regarding drug quality and drug safety have intensified as these findings raise alarms about the integrity of pharmaceutical production.