The Karnataka food safety and drugs administration (FDA) on Sunday said it has cancelled 16 drug licences and suspended eight others as its investigation into a suspected counterfeit medicine network near Bidadi expands to pharmacies and wholesalers.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the premises were being used to procure low-cost medications from neighbouring states. The investigation began after the drug enforcement wing received a tip off about the facility. A special investigation team (SIT) has now widened the probe to trace the supply chain and identify those involved in obtaining, distributing and selling the medicines.
These cheaper drugs were allegedly refilled into new vials and relabelled to counterfeit expensive life-saving brands of multinational corporations, specifically imitating imported products under the brand name ‘Pfizer’,” the FDA said in a release. A SIT has extended the probe to trace the supply chain, and coordinated efforts are underway to arrest all the accused individuals behind this syndicate shortly,” the FDA said.
“The entire stock of seized spurious drugs, machinery, and printing materials is being officially documented and will be produced before the JMFC Court, Bangalore South, for further legal proceedings.
