Antibiotics were produced by companies like Indian Genomix Pvt. Ltd. (Telangana) and Zazen Pharma Pvt. Ltd. (Maharashtra), but were falsely relabeled as products of Jodas Expoim Pvt. Ltd. and Alpa Laboratories Ltd., misrepresenting their origin
Published Nov 27, 2024 | 9:07 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 27, 2024 | 9:07 PM
Telangana pharma facility used false labels to export antibiotics to Russia
The Drugs Control Administration (DCA) of Telangana seized antibiotics worth ₹1.33 crore during a raid on Jodas Expoim Pvt. Ltd.’s manufacturing facility at Biotech Park, Karakapatla, Siddipet district.
The facility was found to be involved in unauthorised packing and falsified labeling of antibiotics exported to Russia.
Antibiotics were manufactured by other pharmaceutical companies, such as Indian Genomix Pvt. Ltd. in Telangana and Zazen Pharma Pvt. Ltd. in Maharashtra.
The products were relabeled with false claims of being manufactured by Jodas Expoim Pvt. Ltd. and Alpa Laboratories Ltd. (Indore), effectively misrepresenting the origin of the medicines.
The facility at Jodas Expoim Pvt. Ltd. engaged in unauthorised repackaging of these antibiotics, a violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, a drug is considered spurious if the manufacturer of the drug is misrepresented.
The falsified products were exported to Russia under Jodas Expoim Pvt. Ltd.’s name, with no valid documentation or licenses required under India’s EXIM Policy and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The entire operation was carried out with intent to bypass regulatory compliance and deceive authorities by presenting falsified claims about the manufacturing origin of the products.
Acting on specific intelligence, the raid on 26 November revealed that antibiotics manufactured by other pharmaceutical companies were falsely labeled as products of Jodas Expoim Pvt. Ltd.
Among the seized items was a batch of Ampicillin + Sulbactam (1000 mg + 500 mg) injections, consisting of 38,175 vials, misrepresented as manufactured by Jodas Expoim Pvt. Ltd. and Alpa Laboratories Ltd., Indore.
Ampicillin + Sulbactam is injected into the muscle or given as an infusion into the vein to treat bacterial infection.
The seized batch, it was later confirmed, was produced by Indian Genomix Pvt. Ltd., Telangana.
Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid (1000 mg + 200 mg)
Ampicillin + Sulbactam (2000 mg + 1000 mg)
Meropenem (500 mg), used to treat complicated skin and intra-abdominal infection.
While Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic fighting bacteria in the body, Clavulanate potassium helps prevent certain bacterial from becoming resistant to Amoxicillin.
This antibiotic is used in the treatment of skin infections, urinary tract infection, bronchitis, ear infection, sinusitis etc.
These products were actually manufactured by Zazen Pharma Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra, and were exported in October and November 2024 under false claims.
The seized products violated the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and were categorised as prohibited goods under Section 2(33) of the Customs Act, 1962.
Samples of the antibiotics have been sent for analysis, and further investigations are underway.
The Drugs Control Administration of the state has urged citizens to report illegal drug manufacturing or related activities via the toll-free helpline at 1800-599-6969, operational on working days from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm.
“This operation highlights our commitment to curbing violations in the pharmaceutical sector. Public cooperation is essential in ensuring compliance and safeguarding public health,” Director General of DCA, V.B. Kamalasan Reddy said.
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas)
