Mystery in the Medicine: Glenmark Unmasks the Real Story Behind Spurious Drug Reports

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has issued a strong clarification after the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) flagged certain drug batches as substandard and spurious, including its hypertension medication Telma H. The company asserts that the products referred to in the regulatory report are counterfeit and were not manufactured or distributed by Glenmark, highlighting the growing threat of spurious drugs in India’s pharmaceutical supply chain.

 

Key Highlights:

 

Firm Denial from Glenmark: Glenmark categorically stated that the flagged batch of Telma H is counterfeit and not produced by the company. Regulatory authorities have confirmed this, and Glenmark emphasized its commitment to patient safety and product quality.

 

Spurious vs. Substandard: Industry bodies and Glenmark have called for a clear distinction between substandard (NSQ) and spurious (counterfeit) drugs, warning that linking fake products to legitimate manufacturers can cause severe reputational and financial damage and harm India’s image as a reliable global medicine supplier.

 

Regulatory Response: CDSCO’s recent alerts flagged over 50 drugs for quality issues, but officials clarified that failure of a specific batch does not mean all drugs under that name are unsafe. Investigations are ongoing to determine the authenticity of flagged samples.

 

Security Measures: Glenmark has implemented advanced security features to combat counterfeiting and urges pharmacies to source their products only from authorized stockists to ensure authenticity.

 

Industry Impact: The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance and leading pharma firms are urging regulators to expedite investigations and enforce stringent measures against counterfeiters, as the menace of spurious drugs continues to threaten public health and industry credibility.

 

Sources: Economic Times, Medical Dialogues, CNBC-TV18