The Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO) flagged four drugs as spurious on Friday, including the commonly used calcium supplement Shelcal 500 and the antacid Pan D.
Urimax D, used to treat Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate, and Deca-Durabolin 25 Injection, prescribed for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, are the other drugs flagged as spurious in the CDSCO’s recent monthly update for September.
According to the regulator, the four flagged drugs were produced by 40 companies that were operating as counterfeit manufacturers.
The regulator’s monthly report on counterfeit medications also identified 49 drugs and formulations as not of standard quality (NSQ). NSQ drugs fail to meet the quality standards set by national or international authorities. Of the 3,000 drugs recalled in batches by the CDSCO, these 49 were included on the list. Some of the flagged medications are the antibiotic Clavam 625 and the antacid Pan 40 tablets, both manufactured by Alkem Health Science. Other NSQ drugs include antibiotics Monocef and Ciprodac 500, produced by Aristo Pharmaceuticals and Cadila Pharmaceuticals, respectively.
A spokesperson for Alkem Laboratories reportedly defended the company, stating that the drug samples selected by the CDSCO were spurious and not produced by Alkem. He emphasized that the company is dedicated to providing quality medications to patients.
Additionally, the regulatory body released a state list of 18 drugs produced by 14 companies that were identified as not of standard quality (NSQ) across various counts. This list includes seven drugs manufactured in Uttarakhand and five from Kerala, among which are four drugs produced by the Kerala Medical Services Corporation.