Cough syrup controversy: Tamil Nadu government cancels license of pharma company, closes down the company

The state government on Monday, October 13, said the manufacturing license of Tamil Nadu-based Sreesan Pharmaceutical Company, which allegedly produced the now banned adulterated cough syrup Coldrif, has been completely canceled and the company has been ordered to shut down.

During inspection, officials of the State Drug Control Department found that the cough syrup contained 48.6 percent of a poisonous substance called Diethylene Glycol (DEG). This medicine is linked to the death of children in Madhya Pradesh.

Authorities also found that the company lacked proper manufacturing practices (GMP) and good laboratory practices (GLP), and recorded more than 300 significant and major violations.

Company owner G Ranganathan was recently arrested by a special investigation team of Madhya Pradesh.

Earlier in the day, a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the premises of Shreesan Pharmaceuticals and some officials in a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case.

“The drug manufacturing license of Srisan Pharmaceuticals has been completely canceled and the company has been closed down. A detailed inspection of other drug manufacturing companies based in Tamil Nadu has been ordered,” the government said in a release here.

At least 22 children from Madhya Pradesh, mostly residents of Parasia in Chhindwara district, have died so far due to suspected kidney failure after consuming banned Coldriff cough syrup.

Some other children are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Many children from Chhindwara were taken to hospitals in Nagpur for advanced health care, where they died due to kidney failure.