Maharashtra FDA seized a stock of Rs 1.54 crore of spurious Favimax 400 and 200 mg from the stock points. Meanwhile, the analytical report of samples of Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate tablets (M HCQ 200) manufactured by Max Relief Healthcare too has confirmed it as spurious. D R Gahane, Joint Commissioner, FDA Maharashtra (HQ Mumbai) told ‘The Hitavada’, “The Mumbai Police had arrested the alleged kingpin identified as Sudip Mukherji who ran Max Relief Healthcare. FDA found the name of company fake and no licence was issued by the Drug Controller in the name of Max Relief Healthcare on its address mentioned on the label as ‘Max Relief Healthcare, Village Anji, Solan, Himachal Pradesh.” “Both the drugs Favipiravir and Hydroxychloroquine Sulphate tablets were marketed by Covalent Healthcare, Kolkata.

 

FDA officials led by Ganesh Rokade, Assistant Commissioner (Intelligence Branch FDA) seized the medicines from three premises named Shivsrushti Surgimed, Mumbai-63; Nirav Trade Link, Mumbai-20 and Meditab Worldwide, Kandivali east, Mumbai, suspected to be spurious. These firms were operating from Mumbai and pushing fake drugs through a website for on-line sales,” he added. “These firms had distributed the drugs to all major cities in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat. Thousands of strips of Favimax have been sold from major stockists in Aurangabad city in Maharashtra as well as district. Though FDA had issued an order to stop sale of these fake brands to all its divisions, thousands of persons had already consumed the medicine during COVID treatment. These persons may have lost their lives due to the consumption of Favimax,” expressed a drug activist. When asked about the same, Gahane said, “It may be possible. Now, Sudip Mukherji is in police custody.

 

FDA officials are trying to unearth the number of strips being sold in the State. All divisions have issued the orders to stop sale and recall the unsold stock. Each strip of 10 tablets costs Rs 1,290 and on the basis of this value, FDA seized a stock of Rs 1.54 crore. The fake anti-viral drug were sold as Favimax-400 and Favimax-200, and M Hcq 200. FDA officials are now concerned if these tablets have already made their way to patients.” “Mukherji’s firm was shown to be fictitiously registered in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. He even claimed that he marketed his fake anti-viral concoction through a Kolkata-based firm, Covalent Healthcare. We found this marketing firm to be fake,” he added.

 

He also said, after Remdesivir and Tocilizumab, Favipiravir was the next candidate for duplication as its demand had increased four times in the State during the April-May pandemic surge. On the modus operandi, FDA officials said, Mukherji’s firm supplied the drug to Meditab Worldwide in Kandivali, Mumbai, and other firms in Gujarat and Karnataka. However, the bulk of the tablets were routed through Meditab. These were supplied to pharmacies and stockists in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka.