Recall Alert: Substandard Products Declared By Provincial Drug Testing Laboratories.

Recall Alert

DRAP Alert NoNo I/S/01-25-16
Action Date7th January 2025.
Target Audience– National Regulatory Field Force.
– Pharmacists and Chemists
in Distribution, Pharmacies and Medical Stores
– Healthcare Professionals – Physicians, Pharmacists, and Nurses at hospitals and clinics
– General Public
Problem / Issue Directorate of Drug Control (DDC) Punjab has informed DRAP that samples of below product have been reported as substandard due to the presence of impurities by the Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) Lahore.

Therapeutic Goods (s) Affected: –

Product NamesCompositionBatch DetailsManufactured by
AMLOShine 10mg

 

(Amlodipine 10mg)
Batch No.
7180
Sunshine Pharmaceuticals, Khan Payara, Near Saim Nala, Eimanabad road, Gujranwala
Bytec tablet
(Cetrizine 2HCl 10mg)Batch No.
E088
Batala Pharmaceuticals, 23/B Small Industrial Estate #2, Gujranwala
Risk Statement:Use of substandard products can lead to therapy failure, which can increase chances of complications in susceptible users including immunocompromised patients, pediatric and geriatric populations.
Action Initiated– The regulatory field force of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control departments has been directed to immediately conduct market surveys for detection and removal of these products from the market.
– All pharmacists and chemists working at distributors and pharmacies should immediately check their stocks and stop supplying these products. The remaining stocks should be quarantined, and the information of their supplier should be immediately provided to their area drug inspector to ensure the removal of falsified product.

Distributors and pharmacies are advised to be vigilant and report any suspected batch of the product(s) in the supply chain to the DRAP using the online form, or by Email at gsmsdra.gov.pk.

Regulatory field force of all federating units (DRAP, Provincial Health Departments, and States) has also increased the surveillance in the market to ensure the effective recall of defective product(s).
Advice for Healthcare ProfessionalsDRAP requests to enhance vigilance within the supply chains of institutions/pharmacies/healthcare facilities likely to be affected by this defective batch of the product.  

-Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with this product may be reported to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre(NPC), DRAP using the
Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link.

-Please click here for further information on problem reporting to DRAP.
Advice for Consumers-Consumers should stop using these product bearing the affected batch number(s). They shall contact their physician or healthcare provider(s) if they have experienced any problem that may be related to using this product.

-All therapeutic products must be obtained from authorized licensed pharmacies /outlets. Their authenticity and condition should be carefully checked. If you have any doubts, please seek advice from your pharmacist.

Rapid Alert: Crackdown Against Falsified Products

Rapid Alert

DRAP Alert NoNo  I/S/02-25-15
Action Date7th January, 2025
Target Audience1·         National Regulatory Field Force of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control Departments
2·         Healthcare Professionals (Physicians, Pharmacists & Nurses)
3. General Public
Problem StatementProvincial Government Analyst, Drug Testing Laboratory Karachi has informed DRAP that samples below product has been identified as spurious (falsified):

The product identification details are as under:

Therapeutic goods affected:

ProductBatch No*Mfg DateExp. DateManufacturer Name
(as per label)
Remarks
Evosef 250mg capsule
(Cephradine 250mg)
HF-001Purported to be manufactured by East Pharmaceutical 19-Km Sheikhupura road, LahoreSpurious. Cephradine not identified
Tramaking-225 Mega tablet
(Tramadol HCl 225mg)
TRD2002Name of Manufacturer not mentionedSpurious

Risk Statement:Falsified products having no active ingredient or identification of manufacturer pose a great risk to the health of patient and can cause adverse drug reactions or may lead to therapy failure that can result in fatal consequences.
Action InitiatedThe Regulatory field force has been directed to conduct surveillance activities throughout the supply chain to confiscate the counterfeit product. All Pharmacists, chemists, and other healthcare professionals working at distributions, pharmacies, healthcare facilities, and other aspects of the supply chain system should immediately check the stock, and information related to the supplier of such product should be provided to the Regulatory field force (DRAP, Provincial Drug Control Departments) to ensure the removal of this product from the circulation.
Advice for Healthcare ProfessionalsAll pharmacists and chemist working at distributions and pharmacies should immediately check their stocks and stop supplying mentioned products. The remaining stocks should be quarantined and returned to the supplier/company. Regulatory field force of all federating units (DRAP and Provincial Health Departments) are advised to increase surveillance in the market to ensure the effective removal of this products.

Any adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of these products should be reported to National or Provincial pharmacovigilance centers using Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link.  Further information on reporting problems to DRAP is available at this link.
Advice for ConsumerConsumers in possession of mentioned batches should immediately report to Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and contact to their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product and report the same to DRAP through Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link.

Rapid Alert: Presence of Counterfeit and Trademark Infringement Case of Laroscorbine Platinum Injection in the Market

Rapid Alert

DRAP Alert NoNo  I/S/02-25-14
Action Date4th February, 2025
Target Audience1·         National Regulatory Field Force of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control Departments
2·         Healthcare Professionals (Physicians, Pharmacists & Nurses)
3. General Public
Problem StatementM/s Roche Pakistan Limited, Karachi, has notified DRAP, regarding the sale of counterfeit ‘Laroscorbine Platinum Injection in the market across Pakistan. According to the principal, Roche manufactured and marketed Laroscorbine until 2005. In that year, Roche sold the product and brand to Bayer AG. Therefore, any Laroscorbine offered for sale, and which is labeled with the Roche logo or which claims that it was manufactured or marketed by Roche, is not a genuine Roche product. Further informed that as the product does not belong to Roch portfolio, tracing of the lot is not possible:

The product identification details are as under:

Therapeutic goods affected:

ProductBatch No*Mfg DateExp. DateManufacturer Name
(as per label)
Remarks
Laroscorbine Platinum Injection
 
Reg. No. 0326422
Purported to be manufactured by M/s Roche Pakistan Limited, Karachi.Spurious

Risk Statement:The use of Laroscorbine Platinum Injection is believed to brighten the skin and maintain skin elasticity. However, the administration of counterfeit productscould result in treatment failure, worsening of the disease, or life threatening consequences
Action InitiatedThe Regulatory field force has been directed to conduct surveillance activities throughout the supply chain to confiscate the counterfeit product. All Pharmacists, chemists, and other healthcare professionals working at distributions, pharmacies, healthcare facilities, and other aspects of the supply chain system should immediately check the stock, and information related to the supplier of such product should be provided to the Regulatory field force (DRAP, Provincial Drug Control Departments) to ensure the removal of this product from the circulation.
Advice for Healthcare ProfessionalsAll pharmacists and chemist working at distributions and pharmacies should immediately check their stocks and stop supplying mentioned products. The remaining stocks should be quarantined and returned to the supplier/company. Regulatory field force of all federating units (DRAP and Provincial Health Departments) are advised to increase surveillance in the market to ensure the effective removal of this products.

Any adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of these products should be reported to National or Provincial pharmacovigilance centers using Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link.  Further information on reporting problems to DRAP is available at this link.
Advice for ConsumerConsumers in possession of mentioned batches should immediately report to Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and contact to their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product and report the same to DRAP through Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link.

Recall Alert: Substandard Flagyl Injection Batch No. Ad482 Manufactured by M/S. Sanofi Aventis Pakistan Limited, Karachi. 

Recall Alert

DRAP Alert NoNo I/S/01-25-13
Action Date28th January 2025.
Target Audience– National Regulatory Field Force.
– Pharmacists and Chemists
in Distribution, Pharmacies and Medical Stores
– Healthcare Professionals – Physicians, Pharmacists, and Nurses at hospitals and clinics
– General Public
Problem / Issue Senior Drug Inspector ICT Islamabad has informed DRAP that samples below product has been reported substandard by Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) Rawalpindi:

Therapeutic Goods (s) Affected: –

Product NamesCompositionBatch DetailsManufactured by
Flagyl Injection 100ml
 

Metronidazole 500mg
Batch No.
AD482
M/s. Sanofi Aventis Pakistan Limited,
Plot No. 23, Sector 22, Korangi industrial area, Karachi
Risk Statement:Endotoxin containing intravenous products can lead to a range of consequences, including fever, chills, shock, organ failure, which can even prove fatal. Even small amounts of endotoxin in an injection can cause significant harm, particularly in vulnerable individuals like immunocompromised patients or those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Action Initiated– The regulatory field force of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control departments has been directed to immediately conduct market surveys for detection and removal of these products from the market.
– All pharmacists and chemists working at distributors and pharmacies should immediately check their stocks and stop supplying these products. The remaining stocks should be quarantined, and the information of their supplier should be immediately provided to their area drug inspector to ensure the removal of falsified product.

Distributors and pharmacies are advised to be vigilant and report any suspected batch of the product(s) in the supply chain to the DRAP using the online form, or by Email at gsmsdra.gov.pk.

Regulatory field force of all federating units (DRAP, Provincial Health Departments, and States) has also increased the surveillance in the market to ensure the effective recall of defective product(s).
Advice for Healthcare ProfessionalsDRAP requests to enhance vigilance within the supply chains of institutions/pharmacies/healthcare facilities likely to be affected by this defective batch of the product.  

-Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with this product may be reported to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre(NPC), DRAP using the
Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link.

-Please click here for further information on problem reporting to DRAP.
Advice for Consumers-Consumers should stop using these product bearing the affected batch number(s). They shall contact their physician or healthcare provider(s) if they have experienced any problem that may be related to using this product.

-All therapeutic products must be obtained from authorized licensed pharmacies /outlets. Their authenticity and condition should be carefully checked. If you have any doubts, please seek advice from your pharmacist.

Annual Schedule for the CSC Meetings for the year 2025

The Clinical Studies Committee (CSC) of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) is mandated under Bio Study Rules 2017 for the regulatory oversight of clinical trials and clinical studies related to therapeutic goods in the country. The CSC reviews and approves clinical study protocols, ensuring they adhere to ethical and scientific standards. It also monitors ongoing clinical trials to assess participant safety and efficacy, makes informed decisions regarding study design, and collaborates with researchers, sponsors, and other stakeholders to ensure quality clinical research and safety of the participants.

The Committee has decided that the CSC meetings will be convened after every 45 days and an annual CSC meeting schedule for 2025 (tentative) has been issued with the aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and collaboration.

S. No.CSC MeetingProposed Date
0154th CSC Meeting28th – 31st January 2025
0255th CSC Meeting03rd – 08th March 2025
0356th CSC Meeting21st – 25th April 2025
0457th CSC Meeting26th – 31st May 2025
0558th CSC Meeting07th – 11th July 2025
0659th CSC Meeting25th – 29th August 2025
0760th CSC Meeting01st – 03rd October 2025
0861st CSC Meeting08th – 12th December 2025

Rapid Alert: Presence of Falsified Mirzpan Suspension 100mg/5ml Purportedly Manufactured by M/s. Miraz Pharma, Kasur.

Rapid Alert

DRAP Alert NoNo  I/S/01-25-12
Action Date23rd January, 2025
Target Audience1·         National Regulatory Field Force of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control Departments
2·         Healthcare Professionals (Physicians, Pharmacists & Nurses)
3. General Public
Problem StatementSecretary, PQCB Balochistan, has informed DRAP that sample of following product, manufactured by M/s Miraz Pharma, Kasur, has been declared “Spurious”, “Unregistered” and “Misbranded” by the Drug Testing Laboratory, Quetta. The sample portion “Suspension Mirzpan” contains no Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (Cefixime), bears a fake registration number in seven digits, and exhibit a pH value of 6.51, which is outside the USP specified range of 2.5 – 4.5. Additionally, the outer packaging contains multiple spelling errors, as well as ambiguous and misleading information. The details of sample are as under::

The product identification details are as under:

Therapeutic goods affected:

ProductBatch No*Mfg DateExp. DateManufacturer Name
(as per label)
Remarks
Mirzpan Suspension 100mg / 5ml
 
Reg. No. 0326422
00711-202311-2025Purported to be manufactured by M/s Miraz Pharma, Plot No. 23, Qasoor Industries, Kasur.Spurious

Risk Statement:The presence of falsified cefixime suspension poses significant risks to patient health, including potential therapeutic failure, inadequate treatment of bacterial infections, and the development of antibiotic resistance.
Action InitiatedThe field force under administrative control of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control departments have been directed to immediately conduct market surveys for detection of presence and removal of mentioned batches from the market.
Advice for Healthcare ProfessionalsAll pharmacists and chemist working at distributions and pharmacies should immediately check their stocks and stop supplying mentioned products. The remaining stocks should be quarantined and returned to the supplier/company. Regulatory field force of all federating units (DRAP and Provincial Health Departments) are advised to increase surveillance in the market to ensure the effective removal of this products.

Any adverse events or quality problems experienced with the use of these products should be reported to National or Provincial pharmacovigilance centers using Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link.  Further information on reporting problems to DRAP is available at this link.
Advice for ConsumerConsumers in possession of mentioned batches should immediately report to Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and contact to their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product and report the same to DRAP through Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link.