As part of reigning in on companies who change the ingredients either to circumvent jurisdiction of the price regulator or to cash on the popularity of existing brand names, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has started cracking the whip on violators, even the Drug Consultative Committee gave a go ahead to bring necessary changes in the laws in this regard.

The DCGI, in a recent order, asked the State drug controllers to ban ‘AZ’ brand which is being used for cetrizine, albendazole, azithromycin and alprazolam.

“It has been brought to the notice that some of the drug products under the same brand name with different ingredients are available in the market and licensed by different licensing authorities. One of such brand name is ‘AZ’ that is marketed with different ingredients,” the order said.

The different ingredients under the same brand are “cetrizine, manufactured by Sienna Formulations Pvt Ltd, Vadodara, albendazole, manufactured by Cure Quick Pharma, Karnal (Haryana), and azithromycin, manufactured by Eugenics, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh,” as per the order. It also stated that formulations of alprazolam were also being marketed as AZ brand.

“Keeping in view the seriousness of matter and confusion it may create at consumer end, all concerned drug controllers are requested to withdraw the permission of AZ brand on top priority and permission may be granted under any other suitable brand name. If there are other similar cases of same brand names for different drugs, they may also be withdrawn from the market in public interest to avoid confusion,” the order said.

Meanwhile, the DCC meeting held here on February 15 ratified the move to stop companies from using the same name of drugs even after changing vital ingredients. The meeting gave its nod for brining in necessary changes in the laws in this regard.

To cash in on the popularity, many companies were found to be using the same brand name even after changing ingredients, the DCC meeting was informed.