-The Telegraph The Union health ministry has banned the manufacture and sale of a pain-reliever called dextropropoxyphene (DPPP) amid steadily growing concerns worldwide that this opioid analgesic drug poses several serious health risks, including heart damage. The health ministry, in a drug withdrawal notification, has suspended the manufacture, distribution and sale of all medicines containing DPPP saying the central government has determined that this drug is likely to involve risk to humans...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: The Supreme Court today observed that even if there was a grain of truth in the charges that Ranbaxy was supplying adulterated drugs, it was a "very, very serious matter" but refrained from issuing any orders till it received "prima facie material". The court said that drug-testing standards in the US were different from those in India, and what was happening in America might not necessarily be happening...

-PTI Drug regulator DGCI is conducting a "focussed scrutiny" of medicines sold by Ranbaxy and some other drug makers, but says it remains confident of the quality standards of Indian medicines despite concerns raised by US authorities over some of Ranbaxy's products. While the company continues to assert that its drugs meet all regulatory standards, a few hospitals and pharmacies have adopted a cautious stand on use of its products. However, a majority...

-The Telegraph The Supreme Court today refrained from passing any order on a plea for early listing of a PIL that had sought closure of pharmaceutical giant Ranbaxy, recently penalised by US authorities for allegedly supplying adulterated and substandard drugs. The public interest petition sought registration of criminal cases under the penal code and also the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1947, against company officials for allegedly cheating millions of patients in the...

-The Times of India CHENNAI: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rapped pharma giant Hospira for serious lapses in manufacturing of drugs at its Sriperumbudur unit. The US agency has warned the firm that this could result in drugs made at the plant not being allowed entry into the US. Hospira, in a regulatory filing, said it had received a warning letter from the agency . The letter followed an...