Uzbekistan cough syrup deaths: UP suspends production licence of drug firm Marion Biotech

Gautam Buddh Nagar’s Drug Inspector Vaibhav Babbar told PTI, that during the inspection, the representatives of the company were unable to produce documents related to the production of ‘Dok-1 max’ cough syrup, which prompted the government to halt its production.

“The production licence of the firm remains suspended, as was ordered on December 29. Now the suspension order has been issued in writing to the firm on January 10 and has been acknowledged by the firm,” Babbar told PTI.

“Marion Biotech did not sell ‘Dok-1 Max’ and Ambronol in India and its only export has been to Uzbekistan,” he added.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a ‘medical product alert’ on Ambronol and Dok-1 Max syrups, both manufactured by Marion Biotech in Noida. Referring to substandard medical products, the WHO said: “The two products are AMBRONOL syrup and DOK-1 Max syrup. The stated manufacturer of both products is MARION BIOTECH PVT. LTD, (Uttar Pradesh, India). To date, the stated manufacturer has not provided guarantees to WHO on the safety and quality of these products.”

Analysis by Uzbekistan’s health ministry showed the syrups contained a toxic substance, ethylene glycol, Reuters reported. The syrups were administered in doses higher than the standard for children, either by their parents, who mistook it for an anti-cold remedy or on the advice of pharmacists, according to the analysis.

Soon after the series of deaths were reported in Uzbekistan, India’s health ministry suspended production at the company. Last week, the Uzbekistan state security service arrested four people in an investigation into the cough-syrup manufacturers.

Marion Biotech registered with Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), a body under the Ministry of Commerce, as a small-scale manufacturer since 2010 and merchant exporter since 2016.

With inputs from PTI, Reuters