SC Lifts Ban On Saridon, Two Other Drugs

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has lifted the ban on Saridon, imposed by the Centre last week. It has also allowed selling of other two drugs for now.

The top court’s order followed a petition filed by the drug makers. It has also sought the Centre’s reply on petitions against order to ban fixed-dose combination or FDCs manufactured before 1988.

Painkiller Saridon and skin cream Panderm were among 328 FDC drugs banned by the government to stop their ‘irrational use’. The Union Health Ministry while banning the drugs had said that the ingredients in these medicines do not add to the benefits that people can get from taking them.

The country’s drug advisory body, the Drug Technical Advisory Board or DTAB, backed the Centre’s decision saying there is no therapeutic justification for the ingredients in these drugs and they must be banned in public interest.

“The Drugs Technical Advisory Board recommended, amongst other things, that there is no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in 328 FDCs and that these FDCs may involve risk to human beings. The board recommended that it is necessary to prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of these FDCs under Section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, in the larger public interest,” the Ministry said.

Some of the popular medicines that have been banned are Gluconorm PG (combination diabetes drug), Lupidiclox (antibiotic) and Taxim AZ (antibacterial). The market share of these drugs combined is estimated to be around Rs 2000-2500 crore, according to a report by News18.