The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) as a part of its efforts to eradicate the market of spurious drugs cautioned the people against using multiple medicines in Punjab and Gilgit Baltistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.
Drug testing laboratories from provinces have informed the DRAP that the samples of above mentioned products have been declared the list of “spurious” drugs.
It said Drug Testing Laboratories of Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad and Gilgit-Baltistan declared following medicines ‘spurious’ as defined under clause (i) of subsection (z-b) of Section 3 of the Drugs Act, 1976: (i) Brexin Tablet each tablet contains of Piroxicam-e-Cyclodextrine as Lyophilized e.q to Piroxicam 20mg with batch number 1192087, purported to be manufactured under license of Chiesi Farmaceutici SPA, PARMA-ITALY Marketed by Chiesi Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd, Lahore.
(ii) Tablet Zetro 500mg (Reg. # 053120), Each film coated tablet contains of Azithromycin as dihydrate 500 mg with batch number F18031, purported to be manufactured under M/s Getz Pharma (Private) Limited Plot # 01, Sector 25, Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi (DML# 000933).
(iii) Tablet TONOFLEX-P Each Film Coated Tablet Contains of Tramadol HCl 37.5mg and Paracetamol 325mg batch number KFM145, purported to be manufactured under M/s Sami Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd, F-95, S.I.T.E. Karachi (DML# 000072).
(iv) Tablet EFASTON, each film coated tablet contains Dydrogesterone 10mg batch number 41160 purported to be manufactured under M/s Lahore Chemical and Pharmaceutical Works (Private) Limited, 137- Ferozepur Road, Lahore (DML# 000064).
(v) CAPSULE CEFSPAN 400mg contains of Cefixime 400mg batch number F0580, purported to be manufactured under M/s Barrett Hodgson Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd F/423 SITE, Karachi.
(vi) CAPSULE ICON 100mg contains of Itraconazole pellets eq to itraconazole 100mg batch number 241694, purported to be manufactured under M/s Ferozsons Laboratories Ltd. Amangarh Nowshera (DML #000038).
(vii) Tablet NOVIDAT contains of Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride eq to Ciprofloxacin 500mg batch number FIM147 Purported to be manufactured under M/s Sami Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd F-95, Off Hub River Road, SITE Karachi (DML # 000072).
(viii) Tablet Augmentin 625mg, each film coated tablet contains of Amoxicillin as trihydrate 500 mg and Clavulanic Acid as potassium salt 125mg batch number 7F4W, purported to be manufactured under M/s GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan Limited, F/268, S.I.T.E. Karachi (DML# 000233).
(x) Capsule Gabica 300mg contains of Pregabalin 300mg batch number 403C27, purported to be manufactured under M/s Getz Pharma (Private) Limited 29-30/27 Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi (DML# 000284) (recovered from peddler/ hawker).
(xi) Imcomox Capsule contains of Amoxycillin trihydrate eq to Amoxycillin (U.S.P) 500mg batch number 08, purported to be manufactured under M/s IMCO Pharmaceutical Labs 73-Industiral Estate, Hayatabad, Peshawar (DML # 000317).
(xii) Omnidol NU Tablet contains of Paracetamol 500mg and Caffeine 65mg batch number 1220, purported to be manufactured under M/s Olive Laboratories. Plot No.52-S-6 National Industrial Zone Rawat Rawalpindi (000524).
All the above-mentioned purported drug products are confirmed as falsified/ spurious, as its packaging falsely claims that it was manufactured by a licensed pharmaceutical company— whereas it was not. Laboratory testing has revealed that the product contains no active pharmaceutical ingredient, resulting in complete lack of therapeutic effect.
Reporter: Babar Shehzad Turk