Latest news with #Rosuvas
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
5 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
CDSCO flags 4 drugs as spurious, 185 not of standard quality for June 2025
The Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Friday flagged select batches of four drugs as spurious and listed 185 other drugs and formulations as not of standard quality (NSQ) in its routine surveillance for June 2025. The drugs flagged as spurious in the apex regulatory body's recent monthly update for June 2025 include the antibiotic Taxim-O 200 and Rosuvas F10 and F20 tablets, used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. The list also includes a sample of Thrombophob ointment, which is used to treat superficial inflammation or swelling of a vein due to a blood clot. While the CDSCO alert named the brands for which spurious samples were found, it did not identify the drugmakers involved. Taxim-O is originally marketed by Alkem Laboratories, whereas Rosuvas is a registered brand of Sun Pharma. The Union Health Ministry added that while two of the spurious drug samples were found in Telangana, one sample each was identified from Bihar and Delhi. A drug is generally considered spurious when it is manufactured by unauthorised manufacturers using brand names owned by other companies. 'The matter is under investigation and action will be taken according to the Act and rules,' a statement from the Union Health Ministry said. Officials familiar with the matter added that unauthorised manufacturers often produce counterfeit copies of many popular drugs, especially cardiovascular and hypertension medications. 'To counter this, rigorous identification and removal of NSQ and spurious drugs from the market is a regular collaborative exercise between central and state regulators,' they added. Of the 185 drugs found to be NSQ for June, 55 were identified at central drug laboratories in Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Chandigarh, while state drug testing laboratories identified the remaining 130. The identification of drug samples as NSQ is based on failure to meet one or more specified quality parameters, such as dissolution, uniformity of weight, and assay of active ingredients in the sample. However, the ministry stated that the failure is specific to the drug products of the batch tested by the government laboratories and does not warrant concerns about other drug products available in the market.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Delhi sees spike in spurious drugs since Covid — BP meds, vitamins on list
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Delhi has witnessed a surge in spurious drug cases, data from the Drug Control department has revealed. According to department officials, since September 2020, around 35 to 40 such cases have been moved against distributors in Delhi's sessions courts. 'Over the years, we have collected samples and seized fake drugs from 55 distributors, many of them repeat offenders,' said an official, adding that before the pandemic, the number of such cases was lower. Officials said that in 2020, the department had raided 4,511 units – places where a medicine is manufactured, packed, printed and sent for distribution – leading to the suspension or cancellation of licences of 369 units. The next year, the number of raids had increased to 5,041, and 480 licences were either cancelled or suspended. Since 2022, the number of such spurious cases has seen a slight decline. While in 2022, 4,281 units were raided and 304 had their licences cancelled or suspended, in 2023, raids were conducted at 3,806 units, of which licences of 327 were cancelled or suspended. Last year, 3,915 units were raided, of which licences of 443 were cancelled or suspended, said officials. The reason, said officials, was proactive enforcement of the law due to an increase in the department's manpower. 'In the last two years, manpower has been strengthened significantly as we needed more people to look into such cases,' the official said. Most of these dealers are based in Delhi, particularly Bhagirath Palace – a market famous for wholesale distribution of drugs, said officials. 'Delhi is a transit state from where vendors get drugs and send them to other states in North India,' the official said. According to records, many of the spurious drug cases were related to medicines for hypertension, cholesterol, dermatitis and allergy, as well as Calcium and Vitamin supplements. 'These vendors also deal in spurious sanitisers, toothpaste, almond oil, injections and nutritional supplements such as Nilcobal Tablets. In many instances, plastic transparent bottles filled with transparent liquid are distributed without any label or expiry date,' the official said. On why the number of cases saw a rise in the Covid-19 years, an official said, 'Advancement in technology when it comes to printing and packaging, often makes it difficult to differentiate between spurious and real drugs.' Another reason behind the surge is the decentralisation of manufacturing units, the official added. 'Earlier, companies used to manufacture and distribute drugs from one destination. Now, printing, stripping and blistering of medicines takes place at different areas… in many cases, even in different states… making identification of spurious drugs a challenge.' Top six medicines linked to spurious drug cases Telma 40: Hypertension Shelcal: Calcium and Vitamin D3 supplement Rosuvas 10: Cholesterol and Triglyceride Betnovate N cream: Eczema, Psoriasis, Dermatitis Rosuvas F 20: Cholesterol, triglyceride Montek LC: Allergic symptoms
