DCA Chhattisgarh seizes cough syrup Phensedyl

Chennai, 18 April: In a recent raid conducted in various parts of the state, the Chhattisgarh drugs control administration has seized 8,79,981 bottles of restricted drug, Phensedyl cough syrup manufactured by Nicholas Piramal, from various shops in Raipur and nearby areas. The seized items would worth about Rs.6.15 crore. The inspectors could not find the sale detail records of the drugs during the inspections in any of the raided shops, said S Babu, director FDA, Chhattisgarh. The drug was brought from Mumbai by agents and was planning to export to Bangladesh through Meghalaya, said the director. He said his department had conducted the raid following a tip off while the regulatory sleuths were engaged in state wide raids as part of enforcement of Drugs and Cosmetics Act (D&C) strictly in all parts of Chhattisgarh. He said one bottle was priced at Rs.70 which would be sold in Bangladesh for Rs.300. The syrup contained codeine phosphate which creates adverse side effects. Following the raid the department has registered five cases and produced the confiscated items in the Raipur court. The drug inspectors who raided Rajesh Agencies in Raigarh seized 1,34,400 bottles and 3,51,309 bottles were confiscated from K K Distributors in Raipur. In another operation at Bhagawati Medical Agencies at Rajandgaon, the sleuths took custody of 72,550 bottles and 70113 bottles of the same drug from Uma Medical Store at the same place. The inspectors in Bilaspur seized 2,51,609 bottles from Guru Medicines in Bilaspur. According to the director, during raids the officials could not find any sale detail records of these bottles. Records showing from where these abundant quantities of drugs were brought to the stores and to whom those were sold, were not found in the shops during raids. Cases have been filed against the company and the traders, whose sale licences were also cancelled. Speaking to this reporter, S Babu said with the marketing of this cough syrup, the volume of sale of Nicholas has increased and the company stopped manufacture of other products for a short period taking advantage of the situation. He added that in the boom period Nicholas sold one of its divisions to Abbot Lab promising them a huge turn over. Following the deal the sale of the drug was stopped due to seizure by various enforcement agencies in several parts of the country.

Pharmabiz