Karnataka Drugs control department’s price control cell has seized imported drugs and vaccines worth around Rs. 4.53 crore from GlaxoSmithKline depot in Bangalore for violating the drugs price control order (DPCO) of 1995. This is for the first time that GlaxoSmithKline has been caught for violating rules in vaccine sales.

The seized drugs were imported and marketed by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Mumbai and Glaxo SmithKline Asia Pvt., New Delhi. The drugs seized are Twinrix adult, Twinrix paediatric, Engerix B Adult, Engerix B Multi, Havrix Pediatric, Havrix adult, Hiberix and Tritanrix HB Mono.

In a press communiqué from Dr. Suresh Kunhi Muhammed, drugs controller government of Karnataka said that the DPCO 1995 prescribes that the outer container carton as well as the inner saleable pack of all the drugs marketed in India should be labelled with Maximum Retail Price (MRP) at which the drugs should be sold to the consumer.

Dr. Muhammed stated that the seized drugs did not contain the marking of MRP on the labels of the inner saleable pack. With a view to prevent marketing of drugs without MRP on the label of the inner saleable pack of the drugs, the officer of the drugs price control cell have seized the drugs which were found to have violated the provisions of DPCO, 1995.

“It is likely that some dealers may sell the drugs which do not contain the MRP printed on the inner label,” informed Dr. Muhammed who cautioned that the consumers are advised to purchase the drugs, which are marked with the MRP on the labels and insist for sale bills. The public who purchase the drugs must bring to the notice of the area drugs inspectors/assistant drugs controllers, deputy drugs controllers or the drugs controller if they come across any drug sold which do not contain MRP on the label of the drug.

The raid on the GlaxoSmithKline Depot in Bangalore was conducted by D Kranti Kumar Bhaskar, deputy drugs controller, DV Sreedhar, assistant drugs controller and Basavaraj Asangi, drugs inspector.

Dr. Muhammed told Pharmabiz.com that a case is booked against the company under the Essential Commodities Act and investigations are on and is expected to be completed in a month’s time. The legal action is now before the deputy commissioner, Essential Commodities Cell. Although GlaxoSmithKline could file an application to withdraw the drugs and sell it with the MRP label, still the drugs department will now investigate further to now identify the officer from Glaxo who was responsible for not checking the presence of MRP label on the packs and he will be charge sheeted for violation of DPCO Act.