Combiflam, D Cold and Cetrizine among 60 drugs marked 'substandard' in quality test

Specific batches of 60 drugs have failed quality tests in sample-based screening of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), the national drug regulatory agency, in March. These include painkiller Combiflam, anti-cold D Cold Total, anti-allergic Cetrizine, and drugs containing antibiotics ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin.

The batches of 60 drugs find mention in CDSCO's March safety bulletin which describes these drugs as "not of Standard Quality/Spurious/Adulterated/Misbranded".

Both the batches of Combiflam and D-Cold tablets failed the test because of "disintegration" issues. Reason of failure for Cetrizine was "related substances". Ofloxacine and ciprofloxacine failed "assay" which is a quantitative tests for ingredients. A gentamicine injection failed the test for "particulate matter". Pantoprazole failed the test for "dissolution".

A list of these drugs and their problems is available on the CDSCO website.