UPDATE: Sindh Drug Testing Lab uncovers massive fake drug scandal: Counterfeit medicines, fictitious firms exposed

KARACHI: A shocking fake drug scandal has been exposed by the Sindh Drug Testing Laboratory, revealing that multiple counterfeit medicines are being sold under stolen license numbers and non-existent pharmaceutical companies.

The official alert (DTL Sindh Alert No. N* A/01-2024-25) dated February 12, 2025 available with Medical News Pakistan warns that these spurious drugs contain no active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), making them completely ineffective and dangerous to human health.

According to DTL Sindh Director Adnan Rizvi, the counterfeit medicines were traced to seven fraudulent pharmaceutical firms that:

✅ Do not legally exist
✅ Use stolen manufacturing license numbers
✅ Sell medicines with fake registration numbers (R.Ns)
✅ Pose a serious public health risk

List of Fake Pharmaceutical Firms & Counterfeit Medicines

1️⃣ M/s East Pharmaceuticals (Lahore) – Cephradine 250mg Capsules

• Claimed License No.: 00630
• Actual License Holder: M/s A.H Pharmaceuticals, Faisalabad
• Fake Product Name: Eyosef 250mg Capsules
• Purported API: Cephradine
• Fake Registration No. (R.N): 072882
• Actual R.N Belongs To: Misozam 200mg Tablet by M/s Biogen Pharma

Key Issue:

This non-existent manufacturer falsely claims a legitimate license while misusing a registration number belonging to another company.

2️⃣ M/s Alpine Laboratories (S.I.T.E. Karachi) – Cefixime Suspension

• Claimed License No.: 00878
• Actual License Holder: Does not exist
• Fake Product Name: Alcoxime Suspension
• Purported API: Cefixime
• Fake Registration No. (R.N): 017156
• Actual R.N Belongs To: R.N does not exist

Key Issue:

This non-existent manufacturer falsely claims a registration number that actually does not exist.

3️⃣ M/s Menakline Pharma (Korangi, Karachi) – Cefixime Suspension

• Claimed License No.: 0000122
• Actual License Holder: Does not exist
• Fake Product Name: Milixime Suspension
• Purported API: Cefixime
• Fake Registration No. (R.N): 01978657
• Actual R.N Belongs To: R.N does not exist

Key Issue:

This non-existent manufacturer falsely claims a registration number that actually does not exist.

4️⃣ M/s Miraz Pharma (Kasur) – Cefixime suspension, Alprazolam Tablets

• Claimed License No.: 00847
• Actual License Holder: M/s Next Pharmaceutical Lahore
• Fake Product Name: Mirzpan Suspension, Mirzolam Tablets
• Purported API: Cefixime, Alprazolam
• Fake Registration No. (R.N): 0326422, 0326487 respectively
• Actual R.N Belongs To: Both the R.Ns do not exist

Key Issue

This non-existent manufacturer falsely claims registration numbers that actually do not exist.

5️⃣ M/s Porm Pharmaceuticals (Peshawar) – Bromazepam Tablet

• Claimed License No.: 0007890
• Actual License Holder: Does not exist
• Fake Product Name: Lexopam Tablet
• Purported API: Bromazepam
• Fake Registration No. (R.N): 0888246
• Actual R.N Belongs To: R.N does not exist

Key Issue:

This non-existent manufacturer falsely claims registration number that actually does not exist.

6️⃣ M/s Multicare Pharmaceutical (Karachi) – Alprazolam Tablet

• Claimed License No.: 025530
• Actual License Holder: Does not exist
• Fake Product Name: Zionex Tablet
• Purported API: Alprazolam
• Fake Registration No. (R.N): 065715
• Actual R.N Belongs To: Belongs to Xenva Tablets by M/s Rasco Pharma

Key Issue:

This non-existent manufacturer falsely claims a M.L that does not exist while using a registration number that actually belongs to Xenva Tablets by M/s Rasco Pharma.

7️⃣ M/s Brom Pharmaceuticals (Karachi)

• Claimed License No.: Not mentioned
• Actual License Holder: Does not exist
• Fake Product Name: A tablet (name is not mentioned)
• Purported API: Not mentioned
• Fake Registration No. (R.N): Not mentioned
• Actual R.N Status: Exists

Key Issue:

This non-existent manufacturer falsely claims a M.L that does not exist while using a registration number that actually belongs to some other pharma manufacturer company.

CONSEQUENCE OF USE OF SPURIOUS/FALSIFIED DRUGS INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Falsified/Spurious drugs may contain toxic and narcotic/psychotropic ingredients in unacceptable doses which may be life threatening.
• They are manufactured under unhygienic conditions without the proper inspection and approval, which are  highly injurious to human health.
• Poor quality medicines compromise the treatment of diseases and may intensify the existing conditions.

ADVICE FOR PROVINCIAL DRUG INSPECTORS:

• The regulatory field force has been directed to increase surveillance throughout the supply chain to confiscate these products.
• directed to increase vigilance at hospitals and within the supply chains of institutions/pharmacies/healthcare facilities likely to be affected by these products.