The Drugs Control Administration (DCA) of Telangana on Saturday, 17 February, conducted a raid at the facilities of Sri Bluten Pharmacy in Quthbullapur on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
During the operation, officials identified the product “Vitency Capsules”, which had been illicitly manufactured under a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence.
The capsules were manufactured at Knox Life Sciences in Himachal Pradesh and were being illegally marketed by Axenic Healthcare, Hyderabad, as a food product or nutraceutical.
“Similar cases of ‘drugs’ being manufactured under a ‘food licence’ were previously detected, in November 2023 and January,” said DCA Director General VB Kamalasan Reddy.
Nutraceuticals are a category of products that combine elements of nutrition and pharmaceuticals. They are derived from foods, dietary supplements, or specific diets.
Nutraceuticals may include substances such as vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and other natural compounds that have physiological benefits or are preventative.
“The drugs, are falsely manufactured and sold under a food licence, are not produced in accordance with the GMPs, and often fail to meet the quality standards,” adds Reddy.