NEW DELHI: Indian health authorities have found violations related to manufacturing and laboratory practices at Riemann Labs, a pharmaceutical company known for producing cough syrup. The syrup had been linked to the tragic deaths of children in Cameroon.
The revelations come as India intensifies its oversight of drug manufacturers following reports of cough syrups made in the country being associated with the deaths of numerous children abroad.
Riemann Labs, which has yet to respond to Reuters’ requests for comment, marks the fourth Indian cough syrup manufacturer to halt production in the wake of regulatory findings of lapses. Rajesh Bhatia, one of the directors at Riemann Labs, had previously informed Reuters that he was not aware of the situation.
Deficiencies in Indian Cough Syrup
In a recent inspection of Riemann Labs’ production unit located in the state of Madhya Pradesh, regulatory authorities identified deficiencies and subsequently issued a notice. Sudam Khade, the state’s drugs controller, indicated that “some violations in good manufacturing practices and good lab practices were found.” However, he did not elaborate on the specific nature of the violations.
To address the issue, samples of all products manufactured by Riemann Labs have been subjected to testing. The course of further action will be determined based on the results of these tests, Khade explained.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, the government disclosed that Riemann Labs had been directed to cease manufacturing following inspections carried out by both federal and state regulators.
Riemann Labs is recognized as the producer of Naturcold cough syrup, which has been linked to the deaths of children in Cameroon. Authorities in Cameroon reported that at least six children had died due to a batch of the cough syrup. Media outlets, however, have cited the number of child deaths as 12.
The discoveries underscore the pressing need for stringent quality control and regulatory oversight within the pharmaceutical industry to ensure the safety of products intended for public consumption.
