Sanofi scrip falls marginally a day after Combiflam recall

The Drugs Controller General of India found Sanofi's popular painkiller drug to be of sub-standard quality twice in the past three months

After Sanofi announced recall of Combiflam batches that were found to be of substandard quality, the company’s share marginally fell by 0.36 per cent on the BSE on Friday.

“A 0.36 per cent fall is normal. Recall of three or four batches (of drugs) does not affect a company’s financial health,” said Surajit Pal, research analyst (pharma) at Prabhudas Lilladher. The scrip closed at Rs 4,300.25 on the BSE on Friday, down from Rs 4,315.85 on Thursday.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) found Sanofi’s popular painkiller drug Combiflam to be of sub-standard quality twice in the past three months - in February and in April. DCGI said the drug was not of standard quality, with delayed disintegration time of the molecule in the blood stream.

Consequently, the company recalled four affected batches of the drug.

“The company has analysed the issue and appropriate remedial steps have been taken to ensure that the tablets disintegrate within the specified timelines,” the company said.

Doctors and patients can be assured that there is no impact on the safety and efficacy of the product.

Consequently, we do not expect the recall to affect the Combiflam sales,” the company said in a BSE filing on Thursday.