Page 2 - Pharma

Govt to bring law for strict quality checks, monitoring of drugs, cosmetics

Amid growing demand for stricter compliance with safety and quality control norms for medical products, the Centre is framing a law to strengthen the legal framework for drug quality testing and market surveillance, along with regulation of medical devices and cosmetics. One of the major reasons behind the drafting of the law is the repeated complaints and concerns flagged by health regulators across the globe, including the WHO, over serious quality lapses by Indian drug manufacturers. The draft of the 'Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Act 2025', which the government aims to introduce in the upcoming Winter session of Parliament, was presented by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr Rajeev Raghuvanshi at a high-level meeting of the Union health ministry held on Tuesday, the sources said. The meeting was chaired by Union Health Minister J P Nadda. During the meeting, senior officials from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and the Central Drugs Standard Control

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

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

DCGI urges state drug controllers to test pharma batches before release

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has urged all drug controllers of the states and Union Territories to ensure testing of raw materials and finished formulations of pharmaceutical products before releasing them in the market in the wake of children's deaths allegedly due to the consumption of contaminated cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Five children from Madhya Pradesh are in a critical condition, while 20 have died due to kidney infections caused by the consumption of the "contaminated" cough syrup, containing Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG). Besides, at least three children have allegedly died in Rajasthan after consuming cough syrup in different districts of the state. In an advisory, the DCGI said that during recent inspections at manufacturing facilities and in the investigations of the drugs declared as 'Not of Standard Quality', it was found that several manufacturers are not testing each batch of excipients and active ingredients for

A deadly dose of neglect: Bitter truth behind cough syrup scare

Bottled negligence: DEG contamination exposes gaps in inspections, leaving pharma units from Gujarat to Kerala under the microscope

Lupin to invest $250 mn in new US facility for critical respiratory drugs

Drug firm Lupin on Wednesday said it will set up a new manufacturing facility in Coral Springs, Florida, entailing an investment of USD 250 million. With a projected cumulative investment of USD 250 million, including research & development, infrastructure and capital expenditures over a five-year period, the new site will have the capacity to accommodate the production of more than 25 critical respiratory medicines, the Mumbai-based drug maker said in a regulatory filing. The Florida-based plant would produce products like albuterol inhalers for children with asthma, it added. By strengthening domestic manufacturing and enhancing supply chain diversification, this critical project will enhance medicine security and strengthen the company's position as a global respiratory leader, it said. Locally, the infrastructure will generate over 200 new long-term, skilled jobs by 2030 in Broward County. "The expansion of Lupin's footprint in Coral Springs is a core part of our growth ...

Kerala stops sale of Sresan drugs after Tamil Nadu cancels company licence

The Kerala government on Tuesday banned the distribution of medicines manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals. The decision follows steps by the Tamil Nadu Drugs Controller to cancel the company's licence, state Health Minister Veena George said. Sales of Respifresh TR, manufactured by a Gujarat-based firm, were also stopped immediately after the drug was found to be substandard, the minister said in a statement. There are five distributors in the state supplying this medicine, and they have been instructed to stop distribution, George said. Strict action will be taken against those selling this medicine. Those in possession of this drug are requested not to use it. These medicines are not distributed through government hospitals. She added that strict action would be initiated against establishments that provide medicines to children under the age of 12 without a prescription from an authorised doctor. The ban comes after reports that 14 children in Chhindwara, M

Punjab bans Coldrif, even as PIL in SC seeks probe on cough syrup deaths

With this, the state joins Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, who have already announced bans on the cough syrup

Eli Lilly's Mounjaro logs ₹80 crore in September, India's No. 2 drug

Eli Lilly's weight-loss injection Mounjaro saw a 42% jump in September sales, touching Rs 80 crore as more patients shift to higher doses amid rising demand

Rubicon Research sets IPO price band at ₹461-475; check key dates, lot size

Rubicon Research IPO will open for subscription on Thursday, October 9, 2025, and close on Monday, October 13, 2025

Govt invites proposals under PRIP scheme for pharma, medtech projects

DoP recently notified revised guidelines to make scheme better suited for stakeholders

Trump’s 100% tariff shock on pharma: What it means for India, pharma stocks?

US President Donald Trump has once again rattled markets with his tariff announcement, this time targeting the pharmaceutical sector.

7 out of 10 digital projects in India's pharma sector fail: Vector study

Vector Consulting Group study finds pharma firms spend up to ₹75 cr annually on IT systems, but 70% of digital projects fail due to adoption gaps and poor execution

Novartis signs $5.7 bn licensing deal with Monte Rosa Therapeutics

Under the agreement, Monte Rosa will receive an upfront payment of $120 million and could earn milestone payments and royalties that lift the total value to as much as $5.7 billion

NPPA asks pharma firms to pass on GST rate cut benefits from Sept 22

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has asked pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers to pass on the benefit of reduced GST rates to consumers with effect from September 22. "The benefit of reduction in GST rates shall be passed on to consumers/patients effective from September 22, 2025. All the manufacturers /marketing companies selling drugs/formulations shall revise theP of drugs/formulations (including medical devices) accordingly, with effect from September 22," the authority said in an order. The manufacturer and marketing companies shall issue a revised price list or supplementary price list to the dealers, retailers, state drug controllers and the government, reflecting the revised GST rates and revisedP, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) stated. Manufacturer and marketing companies shall take immediate measures to sensitise dealers, retailers, and consumers about the reduction in GST rates through all possible channels of communicatio

Are ethical pharma practice norms 'actually' implemented, asks SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday said the actual "difficulty" was in the implementation of the existing norms while hearing a plea seeking an uniform code for marketing practices of pharmaceutical firms to curb any unethical ways to promote drugs. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta made the observation after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the prayer made in the plea had become infructuous as a statutory regime was already in place. "The difficulty is, regime is there in place, but whether that is actually implemented or not," Justice Nath said. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who also appeared in the matter, said a new regime was brought in last year. "That is what the concern of mylords is, that if it is a toothless tiger... what is the purpose," Justice Mehta said. The law officer, however, responded, "It is a tiger with all power at its command". The Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024 came in force last year. Mehta .

No additional tariffs by US on Indian pharma, electronics so far: Govt

The government on Tuesday said no additional tariffs have been imposed on Indian exports to the US in sectors like pharmaceuticals, and electronics so far. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said reciprocal tariff at the rate of 25 per cent has been imposed on certain goods exported from India to the US, effective August 7. It is estimated that around 55 per cent of the total value of India's merchandise exports to the US is subjected to this reciprocal tariff, he said, adding that additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 per cent with effect from August 27 has been imposed on certain goods exported from India. "No additional tariffs have been imposed on Indian exports to the US in sectors like pharmaceuticals, and electronics as yet," Prasada said. He also said the government is engaged with all stakeholders, including exporters and industry, for taking feedback of their assessment of the impact from the reciprocal tariff

Confident about Biocon's response to US tariffs: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

We remain confident in our global footprint and are well positioned to respond once more details are available. , said Biocon Chairperson

Pharma firms get one-month extension to submit declarations under UCPMP

The Department of Pharmaceuticals extends the deadline for pharma companies to file self-declarations, ensuring compliance with the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP)

Cipla Q1 preview: Net profit may jump up to 4%, revenue by 8% YoY

Cipla is scheduled to announce its April-June quarter earnings for the financial year 2025-26 (Q1FY26) on Friday, July 25, 2025