The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has eventually issued a show-cause notice to the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for launching an advertisement campaign in the national media on cervical cancer vaccine without taking prior approval from his office.

In the show cause notice, the DCGI has asked GSK to explain within 10 days the reasons for such an ad in the media, failing which the DCGI will proceed to take action against company. DCGI sources said that the action includes withdrawal of licenses issued to the GSK's cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix, which the company had launched in the Indian market recently.

The DCGI notice to the GSK said that the company has violated Rule 106, Schedule J of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 under which the drug company cannot advertise any drugs. For launching the advertisements, the companies need to take prior permission from the DCGI and in the GSK's case, no such permission was given by the DCGI.