DCA seizes counterfeit anti-cancer drugs worth Rs. 4.35 crore

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Drug Control Administration (DCA) on Tuesday confiscated counterfeit anti-cancer drugs worth Rs. 4.35 crore from an unlicensed warehouse run by Astrica Healthcare near Macha Bollaram.

A special team of Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, led by P. Ramu, Assistant Director, and Drugs Inspectors conducted raids on December 2, 2023, based on credible information.

DCA officials took assistance from the postal authorities at Alwal to trace the location mentioned on the invoices gathered by the DCA and upon inquiry and it was found to be a fake address.

The special team then carried out raids at courier offices used by the firm 'Astrica Healthcare' for shipping their drug consignments.

DCA officials gathered into two teams, one to raid courier offices at IDA Cherlapally, Nacharam, and Medchal, and the other to raid Astrica Healthcare premises in Keesara.

DCA officers and Drugs Inspectors raided unlicensed premises on December 4, 2023 and detected suspicious activity and seized 36 varieties of anti-cancer drugs worth Rs. 4.35 crore.

Seized drugs were spurious, with labels mentioning a non-existent company, 'Astra Generics Pvt. Ltd.', whose licenses were cancelled in July 2021, and manufacturing dates in March 2023.

The main accused in this case, K. Sateesh Reddy, Director of Astrica Healthcare, is currently absconding, and efforts are being made to trace him to take legal action.

The drugs seized bear the names of the following companies

• Astra Generics Pvt. Ltd., Telangana
• Astrica Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Telangana
• Medion Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Himachal Pradesh
• Alliance Biotech, Himachal Pradesh
• Sunvet Healthcare, Himachal Pradesh,
• Salus Pharmaceuticals, Himachal Pradesh
• DM Pharma Pvt. Ltd, Himachal Pradesh
• Safe Parenterals Pvt. Ltd., Andhra Pradesh
• 9) Bless Pharma India Pvt. Ltd., Telangana