Oct. 8 (EUROPA PRESS) –
At least 66 minors have died in Gambia due to damage caused to their kidneys by four cough syrups manufactured by the Indian pharmaceutical company Maiden Pharmaceuticals, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Laboratory analysis of samples of the four products confirm that they contain an unacceptable amount of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol. These four products have been identified in The Gambia to date, but may have been distributed informally to other countries or regions,” he said. pointed out by the WHO in an official alert.
The four syrups are Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup. All batches of these products “must be considered unsafe” until they have been analyzed by the respective national authorities.
The Central Organization for Quality Control of Indian Medicines has opened an investigation into these syrups after receiving the first reports on September 29.
Several medicines from the company Maiden Pharmaceuticals have been rejected by the Indian authorities and Vietnam directly vetoed all of its products in 2011. The pharmaceutical company assures on its website that it sells products to other countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.