USP, IPC to agree on sharing information on chemical reference substances soon

Mumbai, 27 Feb: Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) and United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) are in the final stages of their discussion to develop a collaborative agreement specifically for sharing information on chemical reference substances produced by USP. USP officials informed that if things go as planned, IPC will be getting exclusive rights to get access to select data on some of the chemical reference substances from USP's database.

Dr G N Singh appointed as new DCGI

Mumbai, 21 Feb: Dr G N Singh was today appointed and given additional charges of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). Apart from handling the responsibilities as the DCGI of the country, he will also handle responsibilities of his previous office as the secretary-cum-scientific director of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC). He has been discharging the functions and duties of chief scientific and executive officer in the IPC since January, 2009.

Two held for smuggling 150 kg of banned Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine

NEW DELHI, 19 FEB: Two men were arrested from Palam Village in the wee hours of Saturday for possessing 150 kg of controlled substances, namely Ephedrine and 18,000 strips (each strip containing 10 tablets) of Pseudoephedrine, which are used to manufacture substances banned under the NDPS Act.

NPPA sends notices to Zydus, Beacon Pharma for violation of Para 18 of DPCO (24/2/12)

manufacturing companies, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has sent show cause notices to Zydus Cadila Healthcare Ltd, Gujarat and to Beacon Pharmaceuticals, Kolkata asking reasons for violation of Para 18 of the DPCO.

Health ministry rejects DoP’s recommendation on pricing of essential drugs

NEW DELHI, 28 FEB: The health ministry has suggested that the pricing of essential medicines be based on either the average price of the three cheapest brands or the government's bulk procurement price, rejecting a draft policy of the department of pharmaceuticals. The ministry's recommendation, made earlier this month, has drawn flak from drug manufacturers who say it can wipe out a third of country's Rs 60,000-crore drugs market.

SC spotlight on illegal drug trials by MNCs

New Delhi, 13 Feb: The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Centre’s response on conducting an independent inquiry into alleged illegal clinical trials of untested drugs by pharmaceutical companies in various states.

Two arrested for illegal storage of drugs (12/2/12)

Chandigarh, 11 Feb(PTI): Two persons have been arrested in connection with illegal storage of drugs. An official spokesman said that cases had been registered against Rajesh Kumar and Sajjan Kumar, residents of Mandi Dabwali, at the Dabwali City Police Station.

Phensedyl laden truck seized by customs (12/2/12)

Karimganj (Assam), 10 Feb(PTI): A truck loaded with Phensedyl cough syrup bottles was intercepted by the Central Revenue Intelligence in Assam's Cachar district, officials said today. Acting on specific input CRI branch of Silchar intercepted the truck loaded with 450 cartons of Phensedyl bottles after a chase at Gumrah-Jalalpur area, about 40 km from here, last night, revenue intelligence sources said.

Maharashtra FDA registers 26 not-of-standard drugs in January

Mumbai, 10 Feb: The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has detected 26 not-of-standard drugs during the month of January in the random sample testing. In January manufacturers from the tax-free state of Himachal Pradesh with 13 accounts for the major share.

FDA serves notice on 80 newspapers

THANE, 3 FEB: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra’s Konkan division has issued notices to more than 80 newspapers for publishing advertisements about the medicinal products that make tall claims regarding their effectiveness, a top official said today. The advertisements typically talk about the products which contain sexual innuendos and assure of curing sexual dysfunctions.

Karnataka drugs control department declares 23 drugs as not-of-standard quality

Bengaluru, 8 Feb: Karnataka drugs control department has seized 23 drugs which are not-of-standard quality. The inspections were carried out between January 1 to January 31, 2012 to ensure that quality drugs are in circulation and the drug test Lab at Bengaluru have declared the list of drugs.