High court gives clean chit to Haseeb Pharma after findings of Central drug laboratory

Madurai: The prosecution initiated against Nagpur-based Haseeb Pharmaceuticals Private Limited under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, has been quashed by the Madurai bench of the Madras high court after the Central Drug Laboratory negated a report of the King Institute (Chennai).

A case was filed after a senior drugs inspector of Tirunelveli zone had visited the store of the Government Headquarters Hospital in Tenkasi in April 2013 and lifted a sample of the drug called Compound Sodium Lactate (ringer lactate solution for injection) Injection in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. He sent a sample of the same for analysis to the government analyst (drugs special), Kings Institute at Guindy in Chennai.

TOI reports that the King Institute had stated that a drug sample sent by the senior drug inspector, Tiruneveli zone, from the government headquarters hospital store in Tenkasi did not conform to the requirement for sterility and was not of standard quality.

Assistant director of drugs issued show cause notice to Haseeb Pharmaceuticals seeking documents, including a certified copy of the drug license and distribution details in January 2014 after getting a negative report from King Institute. On the other hand, company rejected the report and wanted the sample to be tested in the central drug laboratory. Meanwhile drug inspector files a complaint against the company.

However, according to the report of sample sent to the Central Drug Laboratory, the sample conformed to specifications with respect to the test for sterility, thus prompting the court to quash the petiton.