Page 2 - Cough Syrup

WHO alert on 3 'toxic' syrups: Which pharma companies are under the scanner?

The World Health Organization has issued a global alert after identifying three toxic cough syrups in India that have been linked to the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

WHO alert on cough syrups, Haryana IPS office suicide, Bihar assembly polls & more top

The World Health Organisation has issued an alert on three substandard cough syrups made in India- Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and ReLife. This comes after at least 22 children died in Madhya Pradesh

WHO warns against three Indian cough syrups including deadly Coldrif

The WHO identified specific batches of Coldrif (Sresan Pharmaceuticals), ReLife (Shape Pharma), and Respifresh TR (Rednex Pharmaceuticals) as contaminated

Tamil Nadu cancels licence of cough syrup maker linked to child deaths

"The manufacturing licenses of Sresan Pharmaceuticals have been completely cancelled, and the company has been shut down," the state government said in a statement

Coldrif cough syrup deaths: ED conducts searches at 7 locations in Chennai

The searches reportedly cover the residences of top officials from the Tamil Nadu drug control office

Cough syrup deaths: Sresan Pharma's license cancelled, company shut down

The state health department stated that the company has been officially shut down after its investigation of toxic contaminants, specifically Diethylene Glycol (DEG), in their cough syrup

Cough syrup deaths: Probe into Coldrif manufacturer exposes TNFDA lapses

The investigation against the Kanchipuram-based manufacturer of Coldrif cough syrup, linked to the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh, has brought to light lapses by the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration in enforcing basic regulatory norms, CDSCO sources said. Licensed in 2011 by the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration (TNFDA), Sresan Pharma continued operations unchecked for over a decade despite its dismal infrastructure and multiple violations of national drug safety rules, they said. A recent inspection by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) exposed the unit's appalling conditions and total non-compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), the sources said. "The CDSCO has not been involved in any of the audits at Sresan Pharma. Since the CDSCO was not involved and the state FDA did not inform the CDSCO about this company in any way, this company was not part of any of the CDSCO databases," a source said. TNFDA officials could not be reached

Cough syrup deaths: Delhi govt bans sale and distribution of Coldrif

The Delhi government has banned the sale, purchase and distribution of Coldrif cough syrup after it was declared "not of standard quality", an official order said. According to the order issued on Friday, Coldrif Syrup (Paracetamol, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, Chlorpheniramine Maleate Syrup), manufactured in May 2025 by Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, Tamil Nadu, was found to be adulterated with Diethylene Glycol (46.28 per cent w/v), a toxic chemical known to be harmful to human health. All stakeholders are directed to immediately stop selling, purchasing, or distributing the said batch of the syrup. The general public has also been advised not to use the product, given its potential health risks, the order said. The assistance of all stakeholders is sought for the strict implementation and wide dissemination of the public advisory, which has been issued in public interest, it said.

Cough syrups linked to child deaths in India not shipped to US, says FDA

The US FDA said it was aware of news reports of devastating, ongoing diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol contamination in children's cough and cold medicine in India

Cough syrup deaths: SC rejects PIL seeking CBI probe, safety review

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL seeking an inquiry and systemic reform in drug safety mechanisms in the wake of deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly due to consumption of toxic cough syrups. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran dismissed the PIL filed by lawyer Vishal Tiwari after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta objected to it. The top law officer said the petitioner reads the newspaper and rushes to the court. The bench, which was initially of the view that the notice should be issued, later dismissed it. Mehta said he was not appearing for any state at the moment but the seriousness with which states like Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are taking actions cannot be undermined. Moreover, there are proper law enforcement mechanisms in states, he added. The bench asked Tiwari as to how many PILs he has filed so far in the top court and on being told that he has moved eight to 10 such pleas so far

FDA seizes Rednex stock in Pune after children deaths linked to cough syrup

The raid targeted the premises of Rednex Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd. in Pune, the manufacturer of the syrup 'RespiFresh TR', the seized stock is valued at ₹13 lakh

Drug regulator begins pan-Indian inspection of cough syrup makers

The regulator has sought a list of cough syrup manufacturers from all states and UTs following reports of toxic contaminants linked to child deaths in Madhya Pradesh

UK PM in India, cough syrup deaths case, Bihar elections, Israel-Hamas peace deal & more

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai today. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the India-UK trade deal,

Mohan Yadav blames Tamil Nadu for poor cooperation in cough syrup case

After 24 child deaths linked to toxic cough syrup, Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav accuses Tamil Nadu of not cooperating in the investigation into drug safety lapses

Datanomics: Surge in substandard drugs raises safety concerns in India

India faced global scrutiny in 2023 when its cough syrups were linked to the deaths of dozens of children in Gambia

Cough syrup deaths: SC agrees to hear PIL seeking CBI probe, safety review

The Supreme Court agreed to hear on Friday a PIL seeking inquiry and systemic reform in drug safety mechanisms in the wake of deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan allegedly due to consumption of toxic cough syrups. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and K Vinod Chandran took note of the submissions of PIL petitioner and lawyer Vishal Tiwari that the plea needed an urgent hearing. The bench agreed to hear the plea on October 10. The plea seeks a court-monitored probe into the incidents and urges the constitution of a National Judicial Commission or Expert Committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. The PIL requests that all pending FIRs and investigations concerning the deaths of children caused by toxic cough syrups across states be transferred to the CBI. It seeks a probe under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge to ensure fairness and uniformity. The petition contends that separate state-level investigations ha

Cough syrup-linked deaths in MP rise to 22 as two more children succumb

These children from Chhindwara died due to suspected kidney failure, which is linked to the consumption of 'toxic' Coldrif cough syrup

Coldrif cough syrup case: Sresan Pharma owner arrested in Chennai

G Ranganathan will be presented before a Chennai court today and brought to Chhindwara after transit remand, as police probe the deaths of 21 children linked to Coldrif cough syrup

Chhindwara chemists announce strike after shops sealed over cough syrup

Santosh Chore, President of the Chemist Association, expressed strong disagreement with the administration's decision to seal chemist shops

WHO flags gap in India's cough syrup testing following children's death

The children died over the past month after consuming cough medicine containing toxic diethylene glycol in quantities nearly 500 times the permissible limit