The drug alert system, launched by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to inform the public about the drugs, devices and cosmetics found substandard or spurious during the tests, has picked up momentum with different drug testing laboratories reporting 12 cases during January.

After the system was launched in November with three cases that came from the Central Drug Testing Lab in Chennai alone, the number of such cases went to seven with more labs sending in reports to the DCGI office in December. The alert system also has prompted the companies to recall the batches of drugs found substandard.

CDL, Kolkota has reported four cases while regional central drug testing lab of Guwahati and CDTL, Chennai reported three cases each in January. Regional lab at Chandigarh and CDTL in Mumbai also sent reports about one each cases.

Brexic DT (piroxicam dispersible tablets 20 mg) having batch no. WBI-1207 and manufactured by Wockhardt Ltd was among the cases reported. Cloxacid- D 500 capsules (bath no WGS 1204) by G S Pharmaceuticals was sent by Arunachal Pradesh Drugs Control Department to RDTL Guwahati and was  found substandard in the assay test in another instance.

Adrenaline injection IP (b.no – AD1N1L) by Arco Life Sciences of Nagpur,  telmisartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets USP (Arbitel-H) having batch number of ARHD0029 and manufactured by Micro Labs of Baddhi,  diclofenac sodium tablets IP 50 mg (Batch No. DF110) by Eurokem Laboratories (P) Ltd of Alathur in Tamil Nadu, and Spasdor tablets (dicyclomine HCL and mafenamic acid tablets) having batch No. JKT-12107 and manufactured by Japsi Chem Pharmaceuticals of Solan were also among those reported as substandard.  Another drug, Pyricure-650 (paracetamol tablets) with batch No. JLT-1221, manufactured by Japsi was also found substandard in the test done by Chennai lab.

Spinz talcum powder (batch no L3) by Cavincare Pvt Ltd failed the test for microbial limit while Oroceph-500 capsule (batch no OC5-7033) by Lark Laboratories was found to be having no uniformity with that of net content. Lupisera-D tablets (b.no. 005 E1ABY) by Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Carvas 3.125 (carvedilol tablets IP) with batch no of E20053 manufactured by Medley Pharmaceuticals and Ondasentron tablets (B.No 1103) by Deepin Pharmaceuticals were also included in the alert list.