Withdraw Medrol 6 months before expiry: HC to Pfizer

The Delhi High Court has asked pharma major Pfizer Ltd to withdraw stocks of its already imported drug Medrol, used to treat a wide range of inflammatory, allergic and immune disorders, six months before the expiry period of 60 months prescribed under the rules.

Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw issued the direction to bind Pfizer to its statement before the court that it will withdraw stocks of the drug six months before date of expiry. “This court by interim order in this petition having restrained DCGI from consequential action pursuant to impugned notice-cum-order of September 15, 2015 against the petitioner (Pfizer), it is deemed appropriate to bind the petitioner to its statement, of withdrawing the drugs from the market six months prior to their expiry, by directing the petitioner to withdraw all stocks of the drug Medrol with the date of expiry to which objection has been taken by the respondents, six months before the prescribed date of expiry, so that there is no possibility of the drug being consumed by anyone in the 61st month of its manufacture,” the court said.

MedrolTablets contain methylprednisolone which is a glucocorticoid.

Methylprednisolone is used to treat conditions such as arthritis, blood disorders, severe allergic reactions, certain cancers, eye conditions, skin/kidney/intestinal/lung diseases, and immune system disorders.