Exploring all options to deal with drug ban: Merck

Drug major Merck Ltd today said it is exploring all options to counter the ban on its two cough syrups, Cosome Expectorant and Cosome LCD, manufacturing and sales of which have stopped.
"We are exploring all our options to deal with these prohibitory orders," Merck said in a filing to BSE.
The company's two drugs, Cosome Expectorant and Cosome LCD, have been banned from manufacturing and sale, courtesy government notification dated March 10, 2016, it added.
"The company has immediately stopped the manufacturing and sale of these drugs," Merck said.
These dugs were manufactured by the company after having requisite licence from the state FDA. The drugs are having well established efficacy and safety profile over the years in Indian markets, it added.

In a gazette notification on March 10, the government had banned manufacturing, sale and distribution of 344 fixed dose combination drugs.