Popular drugs like D-Cold Total, Cetrizine, Combiflam, Panza-40 tablets, Ibuprofen, and antibiotics with ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, Amoxycillin, Ciprofloxacin have tested as sub-standard by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

According to a 'Drug Alert for the Month of March' uploaded by CDSCO, about 60 medicines tested in various zonal offices of the agency have been found to be 'Not of Standard Quality/ Spurious/ Adulterated/ Misbranded'.

According to the CDSCO report, Combiflam was sub-standard because of 'disintegration', Ciprofloxacin Tablets IP 250mg due to 'assay', D Cold Total due to 'disintegration', Panza-40 Tablets due to 'dissolution', and so on.

Clarifying their stance, Sanofi, in a statement said,

"Certain batches of Combiflam that were manufactured in 2015 were deemed substandard because the tablets showed a delay in the disintegration time. There are several pharmaceutical parameters that are routinely assessed, one of which is to check the breakdown of a tablet in the human body. The batch identified by the CDSCO in March 2017 was also manufactured in 2015. Once we receive the official notice, we will ascertain the finding and take appropriate action.

"In the case of these specific 2015 batches of Combiflam, although the disintegration time was delayed, doctors and patients can be assured that there is no impact on the safety and efficacy of the product. Since the matter first arose last year, we have analysed the problem and taken appropriate remedial steps to ensure that the tablets disintegrate within the specified timelines."

The names of all the 60 drugs, including the details of the batch number, the date of manufacture, the date of expiry, and manufactured by, have been mentioned in the drug alert report for March on the CDSCO's website.

Sanofi added, "Combiflam continues to be a safe and efficacious analgesic used for relieving pain."