Noida firm linked to Uzbek syrup deaths under scan over missing key supply records

The solvent, propylene glycol, is said to be the most likely source of the contaminants that have been reported in two Marion-made syrups — Ambronol and Dok-1 Max — by the Uzbek national quality control laboratory. The contaminants were identified by Uzbek authorities as ethylene glycol and di-ethylene glycol.

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Being maligned, says Noida firm in reply to notice

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Missing documentation on the purchase of a solvent for syrups was one of the key reasons that led to a show-cause notice being issued last month by the UP drug regulator against Noida-based Marion Biotech, the firm that has been linked by authorities in Uzbekistan to the deaths of at least 18 children in that country, The Indian Express has learnt.

The solvent, propylene glycol, is said to be the most likely source of the contaminants that have been reported in two Marion-made syrups — Ambronol and Dok-1 Max — by the Uzbek national quality control laboratory. The contaminants were identified by Uzbek authorities as ethylene glycol and di-ethylene glycol.

Also Read | WHO recommends not using Indian cough syrups linked to Uzbekistan deaths

“Propylene glycol for the products was obtained from a company named Maya Chemtech. The supplier, however, does not have proper documentation on where they procured the solvent from. We are trying to find out where the propylene glycol originated from to figure out whether it has been purchased from an unapproved company,” said a senior official involved with the probe in India.

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Failure to respond in time to the UP regulator’s notice, issued after two rounds of inspection, was the reason why Marion Biotech’s manufacturing and sales licence was suspended by the state on January 9. Officials said Marion Biotech replied to the notice Friday.

Read | Gambian panel holds cough syrup manufacturer Maiden culpable, seeks legal action

“They said that their company, and the Indian pharmaceutical industry, was being maligned. They said that there was no evidence to link the deaths of the children to their product, especially since they have been exporting the product for years,” said an official. Marion Biotech did not respond to an emailed request from The Indian Express for comment.

The missing documentation is among 30 “faults” for which Marion Biotech was served the show-cause notice by the UP drug regulator on December 30. The notice was issued three days after Uzbekistan’s ministry of health said that at least 18 children who had consumed the Dok-1 Max syrup reported sick to hospitals in Samarkand and died of kidney failure.

Also Read | India-made cough syrups and deaths in Gambia: what we know so far

On Thursday, the WHO said in an alert that the Uzbek ministry had found unacceptable levels of the two contaminants in Ambronol and Dok-1 Max, prompting a fresh round of inspection by the UP regulator. The samples of both the syrups have been sent to the regional drug-testing laboratory in Chandigarh.

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In its statement issued on December 27, the Uzbek ministry had also said that the affected children had consumed Dok-1 Max without a prescription and in higher doses than recommended for their age.

Also Read | Can cough syrups cause restlessness, low sugar level, excessive sleepiness in children?

In a similar incident earlier, four syrups manufactured by Sonepat-based Maiden Pharmaceutical were linked to the deaths of 70 children due to acute kidney injury in the Gambia. In that case, India was unsuccessful in its bid to obtain data that could establish a causal relationship between the drugs and the deaths.

Anonna Dutt

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More

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