Pfizer Depot Suspended in Karnataka Fake Drug Probe, 16 Licences Cancelled, Counterfeit Emblaveo Seized
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) has cancelled 16 drug licences and suspended eight others, including the wholesale licence of Pfizer Ltd's depot in Bengaluru Rural, as its investigation into a suspected spurious medicine network near Bidadi has widened to pharmacies and wholesalers.
The action follows an August 18 raid by the FSDA’s Drug Enforcement Wing at an unlicensed facility in Kurubarakeranahalli near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district, where officials seized suspected counterfeit medicines, machinery, packaging material and forged labels worth around Rs 5.05 crore. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was subsequently formed to investigate the wider network.
According to the FSDA, preliminary investigations indicated that low-cost medicines procured from neighbouring states were allegedly refilled into new vials and relabelled to resemble expensive life-saving medicines of multinational pharmaceutical companies, specifically imported products under the Pfizer brand.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the premises were being used to procure low-cost medications from neighbouring states," FDA told The Hindu.
The counterfeit labels also carried QR and scanning codes, which the FSDA found to be non-functional during verification. The department stated that the suspected spurious medicines could pose a serious public health risk.
The seized stock included 5,640 vials of Cefiavigent 2.5 Injection, falsely branded under Eucratia Healthcare Pvt Ltd, valued at more than Rs 3.38 crore; 1,531 vials of Hizlam Injectables, falsely attributed to Welcure Remedies, worth Rs 52.24 lakh; and 264 vials of Emblaveo carrying counterfeit Pfizer labelling, valued at Rs 20.59 lakh. Officials also recovered 30 boxes of expired medicines valued at Rs 35 lakh, along with other suspected counterfeit injectable batches, packaging components, an injection-filling machine and forged labels and stamps.
The FSDA has blocked the batch numbers of the seized medicines on its portal to prevent their further sale or distribution and sent samples to government laboratories for testing of chemical composition, sterility and potency.
16 drug licences cancelled
The cancelled licences include Avesco Healthcare; Bangalore Speciality Pharma; Bengalurus Speciality Pharma; Patel Medi Trade; Rajarajeshwari Pharma; N.S. Pharma; Surya Specialty Pharma; SWS Pharma; Krupa Healthcare; St. Philomena Hospital Drug Centre; Sagar Pharma; Zymus Pharma; Fortune Medical Solutions; Excelcare Pharma; Patel Medicals; and another Bangalore Speciality Pharma outlet at Chamarajpet.
8 licences suspended
The eight suspended licences belong to Med Pharma, Surya Speciality Hospital, Sagar Pharma Unit-II, Vivantha Pharmaceuticals, Maruthi Medicals, Viva Pharma (Belagavi), Hi-5 Pharma and Pfizer Ltd.
The suspended Pfizer licence relates to its C&F depot at Kempalinganahalli in Nelamangala taluk, Bengaluru Rural district. Health Minister U T Khader told The Indian Express, “We have stopped Pfizer’s sale in the state because they did not cooperate with the investigation.” The report added that the action was in the context of alleged non-cooperation with the SIT probe, rather than establishing Pfizer’s involvement in manufacturing counterfeit medicines.
The FSDA has advised patients and consumers to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and insist on valid tax invoices. It has also asked the public to report suspicious changes in packaging or QR/scanning codes that fail to function.
The SIT has widened its investigation to trace the alleged supply chain and identify those involved in obtaining, distributing and selling the suspected spurious medicines. The seized material is being documented for further legal proceedings.
Also Read: Six Pharma Firms Under UP FSDA Scanner Over Alleged Counterfeit Medicines Network
