The Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, has flagged a batch of Abhayrab vaccine, used against rabies, “not of standard quality (NSG)” and “misbranded” after it failed a potency test, raising concerns about the circulation of counterfeits and prompting a probe.
IIL had reported suspected counterfeit vials to authorities, following which health warnings were issued in some countries over the possibility that travellers to India could have received counterfeit rabies vaccine. They were found to differ from genuine reference samples in packaging, labelling, artwork, QR-code verification, cap colour, and licence details. The development follows an earlier counterfeit Abhayrab episode involving batch KA24014 in 2025.
The vaccine samples, bearing batch number KE25012, were seized on April 22 during an enforcement action by the Delhi Police and officials of Delhi’s Drugs Control Department from an “unlicensed residential premises”. Drug regulatory and law enforcement agencies are maintaining strict and continuous surveillance against illegal manufacture, distribution and supply of misbranded and spurious drugs, with coordinated action being undertaken to identify and disrupt unauthorised drug supply networks and safeguard the quality and safety of medicines available to the public, the regulator said.
The investigation will now have to establish who manufactured the suspect KE25012 vials and whether any patients received them.
