The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has shut down the syrup production section of a nearby pharmaceutical business because dangerous substances were found in a cough syrup. The cough syrup reportedly contained significant concentrations of Diethylene Glycol (DEG) or Ethylene Glycol (EG), which can result in kidney failure and instantaneous death, according to the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) in the Gambia.
DRAP acted swiftly by issuing a recall alert and directing all drug inspectors and officials to confiscate all suspect items made by the company in the nation. Davis Pharmaceutical Labs is a manufacturing company with its headquarters in Islamabad. Luckily, no items from the manufacturer have been discovered in local pharmacies because the contaminated cough syrup batch was only made in 2021 for export.
The Drug Testing Lab (DTL) of DRAP has received samples of the syrup for chemical analysis, and the company could face serious repercussions, including licence cancellation and the arrest of its owners, if proven guilty of criminal negligence.
Following this incident, there have been reports of kids in the Gambia and Indonesia passing away after ingesting Indian syrup that included components associated to acute renal damage (AKI). It highlights the significance of strict quality control procedures in the pharmaceutical sector.