Cough syrup-related deaths: after WHO alert, Indian pharma's production licence suspended

The production licence of Noida-based pharmaceutical firm Marion Biotech, allegedly linked with the deaths of children in Uzbekistan, has been suspended while the test results of its controversial cough syrup are awaited, an Uttar Pradesh drug official said Thursday.

A team of central agencies and the Uttar Pradesh drug department on Thursday carried out a fresh inspection at Marion Biotech's office here, a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a medical product alert on Ambronol and Dok-1 Max syrups, both manufactured by the firm.

The health ministry of Uzbekistan claimed these children had consumed the cough syrup.

On Wednesday, the WHO also issued a 'medical product alert', referring to two substandard (contaminated) products, identified in Uzbekistan and reported to it on December 22, 2022.

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With PTI Inputs