Amid rising lifestyle diseases in India, especially heart issues linked to processed foods and inactivity, the spread of counterfeit drugs poses a grave new threat to patients seeking genuine treatment
Published Jun 21, 2025 | 4:46 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 21, 2025 | 4:46 PM
Synopsis: As lifestyle diseases rise across India, Telangana’s Drugs Control Administration busted a counterfeit drug racket in Hyderabad on 19 June. Spurious versions of Rosuvas F 10 and 20—cholesterol-lowering drugs falsely labelled as Sun Pharma products—were seized in Koti. Officials warned that such fake medicines can worsen health risks for heart patients instead of curing them
As lifestyle diseases continue to rise across India, driven in part by increased purchasing power and the consumption of high-fat, processed foods, a new danger is emerging in the form of counterfeit drugs targeting heart disease patients.
In a major crackdown, the Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) seized spurious versions of cholesterol-lowering medications Rosuvas F 20 and Rosuvas F 10 — tablets containing Rosuvastatin and Fenofibrate — during intelligence-based raids in Inderbagh, Koti, Hyderabad. The counterfeit drugs were falsely labelled as products of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., one of India’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers.
“Counterfeit drugs pose a significant threat to public health, endangering patients’ well-being. These drugs not only fail to treat the intended disease but can also lead to severe complications over time,” the DCA said in a statement following the raids conducted on 19 June.
The spurious drugs were found stocked at two distributors — Ganga Pharma Distributors and Sri Nandini Pharma — both located in Inderbagh, Koti. Fake versions of Rosuvas F 20 (Batch No.: SIF2736A) and Rosuvas F 10 (Batch No.: SIF2676A), with manufacturing dates listed as December 2024 and expiry in May 2027, were discovered during the operation.
The real manufacturer, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., confirmed that the seized products were not from their original production lines and were indeed counterfeit. The drugs, intended to lower elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, are commonly prescribed to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and angina. Improper or fake versions of these medicines could leave patients vulnerable to serious cardiovascular events.
Counterfeit drugs worth ₹3 lakh were seized during the raids, and further investigation is underway to identify the source of these fake medicines and bring the offenders to justice.
The incident comes at a time when India is witnessing a surge in lifestyle-related ailments, particularly heart disease, which experts attribute to increased consumption of processed foods and sedentary habits. While patients seek treatment for these conditions, the proliferation of counterfeit drugs adds a dangerous new layer to an already alarming public health challenge.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
