Categories: India

Uzbekistan Cough Syrup Death: UP Government Cancels Marion Biotech’s Manufacturing License

The manufacturing license of Noida-based pharmaceutical firm Marion Biotech has been cancelled by the Uttar Pradesh authorities, according to officials.

Marion Biotech’s cough syrup Dok-1 was linked with the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan. The incident which occurred last December prompted central and state drug authorities in India to launch a probe into the matter.

Official statement

“The firm’s license was under suspension since January after which a detailed inquiry was initiated. Now the license of the firm has been cancelled by the Uttar Pradesh Drugs Controlling and Licensing Authority. The firm can no longer manufacture the syrup,” a government official said on Wednesday.

On March 3, the Noida Police arrested three employees of Marion Biotech from its office in Sector 67 while a lookout notice was issued for two of its directors after an FIR was lodged against all of them, the official said.

The FIR had come in the wake of investigations finding that samples of Marion Biotech’s drugs were “adulterated” and “not of standard quality.”

The samples were sent to the government’s regional drug testing laboratory in Chandigarh and 22 of them were found to be ‘not of standard quality’ (adulterated and spurious), according to the FIR.

The FIR has been lodged under Indian Penal Code sections 274 (adulteration of drugs), 275 (sale of adulterated drugs), 276 (sale of the drug as a different drug or medical preparation) as well as under Section 17 (misbranded drugs) and related violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Also Read: TMC MPs Visit Union Finance Minister’s Office, Demand Adani’s Arrest

Marion Biotech under scanner

Marion Biotech had come under the scanner in December last year for its cough syrup Dok-1 which is suspected to have led to the death of 18 children who consumed it in Uzbekistan after which the CDSCO launched a probe into the matter.

The production license of the firm was suspended in January after inspections at its site by the central and state drug authorities in the wake of the controversy.

On January 12, the World Health Organization (WHO) also issued a ‘medical product alert’, referring to two substandard (contaminated) products, identified in Uzbekistan and reported to it on December 22, 2022.

“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,” the WHO had stated then.

“Laboratory analysis of samples of both products, undertaken by national quality control laboratories of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan found both products contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and/or ethylene glycol as contaminants,” it had noted.

Source PTI

Bharat Express English

Recent Posts

Hina Khan Hails 11 Years Of PM Modi’s Leadership; Highlights National Progress

As the nation marks 11 years under PM Modi's leadership, actress Hina Khan shares her…

5 hours ago

Subhash Ghai Hails PM Modi’s Transformative Vision For India

Subhash Ghai has praised PM Narendra Modi’s leadership for catalysing India’s growth and changing the…

5 hours ago

India & Central Asia Boost Rare Earth Cooperation At Delhi Meet

India and five Central Asian nations have agreed to deepen cooperation on rare earths and…

6 hours ago

PM Modi’s Beej Se Bazaar Tak Vision Reshapes Indian Agriculture

Prime Minister Modi has redefined Indian agriculture with the ‘Beej Se Bazaar Tak’ vision, transforming…

6 hours ago

EV Sales Cross 4% Mark In May; Signalling Steady Shift To Green Mobility

EV sales topped 4% of passenger vehicle retail in May 2025, signalling growing demand for…

7 hours ago

Self-Reliant Defence Industry Marks India’s Strategic Security Ascent

One year into Modi 3.0, reforms have reduced poverty, strengthened defence, and accelerated the digital…

7 hours ago