Tamil Nadu Govt Shuts Down Sresan Pharmaceuticals, Revokes Licence Over Toxic Cough Syrup

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday (13 October) ordered the closure of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of the adulterated cough syrup Coldrif, and revoked its manufacturing licence following an investigation that found dangerously high levels of toxic substances, the Indian Express reported.

State Drug Control Department officials discovered 48.6 per cent of Diethylene Glycol (DEG), a harmful chemical, in the syrup during routine inspections.

The medicine has been linked to the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh.

Further investigations revealed severe lapses in the company’s operations, including non-compliance with good manufacturing practices (GMP) and good laboratory practices (GLP). Authorities recorded over 300 major and critical violations at the company’s facilities.

The owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, G Ranganathan, has already been arrested by a Special Investigation Team in Madhya Pradesh.

“The drug manufacturing licence of Sresan Pharmaceuticals has been fully cancelled, and the company has been shut down,” the Tamil Nadu government said in an official statement. It also announced that a detailed inspection of other drug manufacturing units across the state will be carried out to ensure public safety.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids in Chennai and Kanchipuram over the Coldrif cough syrup tragedy that claimed at least 22 children’s lives.

Raids under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) targeted Sreesan Pharma’s manufacturing unit, offices, and the residence of owner G Ranganathan, as well as properties of suspended Tamil Nadu Drug Control officials, Director Deepa and Joint Director Karthikeyan.

The ED is investigating possible financial transactions or illegal dealings between the company and the officials, along with negligence by drug inspectors who failed to perform mandatory checks at Sreesan’s facilities over the past two years.

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