In what could be the beginning of fresh troubles for Ranbaxy Laboratories, which has just managed to settle long-pending issues with the US Department of Justice after agreeing to pay a penalty of $500 million, the health ministry in India, too, has decided to initiate a probe.
The Drugs Controller General of India had been ordered to examine all the dossiers and drug applications on the basis of which approvals had been granted to Ranbaxy in the past, a ministry source in know of the developments said.
The future course of action would be decided after DCGI’s report, expected to come within a month.
“We have to look at the whole thing very comprehensively. DCGI has been asked to go through the US order in detail and then examine the documents, dossiers and approvals to Ranbaxy in India.
"The regulator will evaluate all documents to see whether there has been any compromise in safety, quality, efficacy, or even in submitting data for seeking approvals,” the source told Business Standard.
Top DCGI officials confirmed the move.
All the officials spoken to said Ranbaxy could face severe penalty under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act if it was found guilty of violation of any provision under Indian law.
An email query sent to Ranbaxy did not elicit any response.
According to the health ministry source, the drug regulator will initially study the US court’s order and the report of the US Food and Drug Administration and examine the period under their review -- primarily pre-2005 — in the Indian context.
However, DCGI officials said the probe might be extended, if required.
“We can look at records even beyond that period. We will certainly look at approvals in the recent years to ascertain that the drugs currently available in the market are safe and efficacious,” a top DCGI official said.
During its 2006 and 2008 inspections of Ranbaxy’s manufacturing facilities in India, US FDA had found violations, incomplete testing records and inadequate stability programme, and manufacturing practices that did not follow regulations.
Ranbaxy, then a promoter-run company with a majority stake held by Malvinder Mohan Singh and family, was acquired by Japanese drug major Daiichi Sankyo in 2008.
Singh, who continued as the company’s CEO & MD even after the acquisition, finally stepped down in May 2009.
The officials said the regulator might seek additional documents and information from Ranbaxy, as well as people involved in the probe of the matter, to ascertain no wrongdoing had taken place in India.
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