The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has detected 35 not-of-standard drugs during the month of January in the random sample testing.   Manufacturers from the tax-free state of Himachal Pradesh with 10 and Uttaranchal with 9 not-of-standard drugs account for the major share in January.

Well-known drug manufacturers like Brawn Laboratories Ltd. (Brunor-400/Norfloxacin tablets), Stanmark Healthcare Ltd. (Aptizyme), Valence Healthcare (Spectoclav dry syrup), Lundbeck India Pvt. Ltd. (Deanxit tablets), Celogen Pharma Pvt Ltd. (Ancide Antacid tablets), Ravian Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd (Bone-C) also figure in the list.

Other highlights of Maha FDA's not-of-standard drugs' list for not complying with dissolution test include Bonsai Pharma (Atrovastatin tablets), Mefro Organic Ltd. (Milicin-250 tablets), Sozin Flora Pharma (Atrovastatin calcium tablets), Zest Pharma (Metronidazole tablets) and Zim Laboratories Ltd (Vitamin B complex) content of thiamine hydrochloride is less than the permissible limits.

Out of 35 such drug samples found in January, 10 were from Himachal Pradesh, nine were from Uttaranchal, five from Maharashtra, three each from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, one each from Assam, Chandigarh, Daman, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.

During January, other companies in the list include Ozone Pharmaceuticals from Assam, Anchor Pharma Ltd from Daman, Ascent Remedies Pvt. Ltd. and Sparkles Exim Pvt. Ltd. from Gujarat, Asa Biotech, Athens Labs Ltd, J M Remedies, Magma Allianz Laboratories Ltd, Mefro Organic Ltd, Sozin Flora Pharma, Smilax Healthcare Pvt. Ltd and Zee Laboratories from Himachal Pradesh, Optima Healthcare and Socrus Pharmaceutical Ltd from Madhya Pradesh, Pharmalink Laboratories, Liberal Pharmaceuticals from Maharashtra, Francis Biotech India Pvt Ltd from Uttar Pradesh, Aglowmed Ltd, Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Eskag Pharma Pvt Ltd, Olive Softgel, Oxford Pharma, Pharland Healthcare Pvt Ltd and Syncom Healthcare Ltd from Uttaranchal.

The state FDA routinely picks up random samples of drugs from chemists and druggists and sends for testing. The department will soon issue show cause notices to these companies.