Sindh lab declares six medicines counterfeit

Seven samples fail tests as active ingredients go undetected

KARACHI:

The Sindh Drug Testing Laboratory has declared seven samples of six widely used medicines counterfeit after tests failed to detect their required active ingredients, while the pharmaceutical companies named on their packaging denied manufacturing the products.

The medicines include Augmentin 625mg, Velosef 500mg, No-Spa Forte 80mg, Mucon Suspension, Brexin tablets and Lexoberon Liquid, according to laboratory reports issued by Syed Adnan Rizvi, director of the Sindh Drug Testing Laboratory Karachi and provincial government analyst.

The samples were declared counterfeit under the Drugs Act, 1976. The reports detail the test findings, batch numbers and responses from the manufacturers named on the packaging.

The laboratory found no detectable amoxicillin trihydrate or clavulanic acid in the Augmentin 625mg tablet sample. GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan Limited, whose name appeared on the packaging, disowned the product in a letter dated September 24, 2026.

The Velosef 500mg capsule sample also failed testing, with no cefradine detected. GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan Limited denied manufacturing the product in a letter dated September 9, 2026.

Similarly, the No-Spa Forte 80mg tablet sample contained no detectable drotaverine hydrochloride. Hoechst Pakistan Limited, named on the packaging, disowned the product in a letter dated September 7, 2026.

The laboratory also failed to detect oxethazaine, aluminium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide in the Mucon Suspension sample. Lucky Core Limited Pharmaceuticals denied manufacturing the product in a letter dated September 7, 2026.

In the case of Brexin tablets, testing found no detectable piroxicam beta-cyclodextrin, the medicine's stated active ingredient. GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan Limited disowned the product through a letter dated September 7, 2026.

Meanwhile, two samples of Lexoberon Liquid, from batches numbered 46292 and 43445, failed to show the presence of sodium picosulfate monohydrate.