ISLAMABAD: The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has seized a batch of imported pharmaceutical ingredients for having high level of impurities, the reaction to which could be fatal, the regulatory body’s CEO has confirmed.

The acceptable level of impurities in Propylene Glycol (PG) excipient — used in cough syrups — is 1.1 per cent, and any contamination above that level can lead to multiple organ failure.

The batch, imported from Thailand’s Dow Chemical, had an impurity level of 25pc.

The batch was tested at Karachi’s Central Drug Laboratory (CDL) after the importer, M/s MKB Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd, Peshawar, informed Drap about the impurities.

According to a document issued by Drap, when the impurities, also called ethylene glycol (EG), are ingested, they metabolise into toxins that affect the central nervous system and heart and can cause kidney damage, which can be fatal.

Drap Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Asim Rauf told Dawn that PG is added to Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) or raw material to sweeten syrups and is called an excipient instead of API.

“The excipient is used in almost all the cough syrups and syrups given for fever and as pain killers.”

Dr Rauf claimed that the batch of excipients was purchased through a middleman, who is Pakistani.

Drap has reached out to the middleman and sent an e-mail to the Thai company for information about other companies in Pakistan who have been sold the excipient.

“Our team is working to ensure that only safe medicine/syrups reach the patients,” the Drap CEO said, adding that all pharma companies have been directed to get the excipient tested before manufacturing syrups.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...