Cough syrup deaths in Uzbekistan: Indian pharma firm halts production, central drugs inspector begins probe

NEW DELHI: India's Marion Biotech has halted production of the cough syrup linked to the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan. "We regret the deaths, the government is conducting an enquiry. We'll take action as per the report," Hasan Harris, legal representative of Marion Biotech, told ANI on Thursday.
A team of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation and the Uttar Pradesh drug department on Thursday carried out an inspection at the Noida office of the pharmaceutical firm during. Samples of cough syrup 'Doc-1 Max' were lifted for testing and analysis.

"There is no problem from our end and no issue in testing. We have been there for the past ten years. Once the government report will come, we will look into it. For now the manufacturing has stopped," Harris said.
The company does not sell 'Doc-1 Max' in India and its only export has been to Uzbekistan, a state government official said.
On Wednesday, Uzbekistan's health ministry said the samples it had tested contained a toxic substance, ethylene glycol, and was administered in doses higher than the standard dose for children either by their parents, who mistook it for an anti-cold remedy, or on the advice of pharmacists.
Ethylene glycol is an industrial compound and is mostly used as an automotive antifreeze.
Seven employees have been dismissed by the Uzbek ministry following a probe into the matter, and "disciplinary measures" were taken against some specialists. The Doc-1 Max tablets and syrups have also been withdrawn from all pharmacies.
The incident comes close on the heels of another similar one in Gambia, where deaths of at least 70 children had been linked to cough and cold syrups manufactured by Haryana-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
The Indian government and also the company, however, have since denied the allegations as samples tested in a government laboratory in India were found to be complying with specifications.
India is known as the 'pharmacy of the world', and has doubled its pharmaceutical exports over the last decade, touching 24.5 billion dollars in the last fiscal year.
(With inputs from agencies)