Fake asthma medication seized; Drugs worth ₹2 lakh confiscated, licences of 2 firms cancelled

Thiruvananthapuram: Authorities have seized counterfeit versions of a widely used asthma inhaler medication from several districts in Kerala. The Drugs Control Department recovered fake medicines worth more than ₹2 lakh during surprise inspections carried out in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode districts in recent days. The drug licences of two firms that had stocked the counterfeit products have been cancelled.

The seized items were fake versions of Cipla Ltd’s Seroflo 250 Rotacaps Inhaler. Investigations have revealed that these products were sourced directly from a counterfeit drug network operating in other states. Preliminary findings confirm that the medicines were not manufactured by Cipla. Bills and other documents have been taken into custody by the Drugs Control Department.

Cases have been registered against two firms, namely Aaswas Pharma, based in Balaramapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, and Med World Pharma, based in Poonkunnam, Thrissur, for stocking counterfeit medicines for sale. As the fake drug racket extends beyond Kerala, inspections have also begun in coordination with Drugs Control authorities in the concerned states.

Officials noted that this is the first time such a large quantity of counterfeit drugs of a single brand has been seized in Kerala. The inspections were prompted by complaints that the product’s smell and other characteristics appeared unusual. Health Minister Veena George has instructed officials to intensify the investigation into the counterfeit network.

Pharma company claims it raised alarm

Aaswas Pharma has claimed it was they who alerted Cipla and the Drugs Controller after developing doubts about the quality of the asthma medication. The company alleged that the inspections were conducted in an attempt to target them.

They stated that on May 17 they received a complaint regarding medicine purchased from Med World Pharma. They immediately informed Med World Pharma and Cipla. Cipla later confirmed that the Seroflo 250 Rotacaps from batch number 4SA2067 had not been manufactured by them, following which Aaswas Pharma notified the Drugs Controller. They added that legal action has already been taken against Med World Pharma.