Notice to pharma co in anti-venom case

Panaji: The FDA issued a show cause notice to Aarav Pharma in connection with supplying spurious snake anti-venom vials to the directorate of health services. The notice asked the company to show cause why its licence should not be cancelled and why penal action should not be taken in the case.

"You purchased a counterfeit/spurious product, Snake Venom Antiserum IP (Lyophilised) 10 ml, purported to be manufactured by M/s Vins Bioproducts Limited, Telangana, and stocked and supplied the same to the Medical Store Depot, Directorate of Health Services, Campal, Panaji. Thus, you stocked for sale a spurious drug as defined in Section 17B, which is a contravention of Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 27(a) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940," the show cause notice stated.


The FDA received an email from Vins Bioproducts Limited, Telangana, informing it about counterfeit/spurious snake venom antiserum IP (Lyophilised) 10 ml purported to be manufactured by M/s Vins Bioproducts Limited, which was found stocked for supply at the Directorate of Health Services, Campal.

The Medical Store Depot at DHS was jointly inspected by inspecting officers of the FDA and the central Drug SCO, sub zone.