A team of central agencies and Uttar Pradesh’s drug department on Thursday inspected the Noida office of a pharmaceutical firm whose cough syrup is allegedly linked to the deaths of 18 children in Uzbekistan, officials said. The inspection at Marion Biotech began around 12 noon and continued for more than 10 hours, during which six more syrup samples were taken, they said. According to the official, the inspection team had four members two drug inspectors from the Centre, one drug inspector from Noida and one assistant drug commissioner of the Meerut division.
Marion Biotech does not sell ‘Doc-1 Max’ cough syrup in India and its only export was to Uzbekistan, a state government official said. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has launched an investigation into the deaths of 18 children in Uzbekistan allegedly linked to Marion Biotech. The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan claimed that 18 children had consumed the cough syrup. The inspection began at the Marion Biotech office in Noida Sector 67 on Thursday.
Gautam Buddh Nagar drug inspector said that “Depending on the documents and the physical inspection on site, we have stopped production (of the syrup) with immediate effect. Since the drugs were exported, we have taken six more samples today. Production will remain halted until the sample results come in and the documents related to their production are received, Some samples would go to the central testing laboratory while some in the state, adding that their results were expected within a few days”.
The company used to exported 1 lakh syrups in 45 days. The company also produces syrups, tablets and ointments. The company has been operating since 2010. Hasan Harris, an attorney for Marion Biotech, said the governments of both countries are looking into the matter and making inquiries. “There is no problem from our side and no problem in testing. We have been there for the last 10 years. Once the government report comes, we will look into it. Production has stopped for now,” Harris said.
