Tamil Nadu Revokes Sresan Pharma License After Toxic Cough Syrup Deaths
TN revokes Sresan Pharma’s license over deadly Coldrif contamination.
In a shocking development, the Tamil Nadu government has revoked the manufacturing license of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, based in Kancheepuram district, following the deaths of 22 children in Madhya Pradesh linked to its contaminated cough syrup, Coldrif. The state health department announced the complete cancellation of the firm's license and its closure on Monday, citing severe lapses in quality control.
The owner of Sresan Pharma, G Ranganathan, was arrested last week from his Chennai residence by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Madhya Pradesh. The arrests come as part of an investigation into the contaminated batch of Coldrif, which was found to contain dangerously high levels of toxic substances. Tamil Nadu also suspended drug inspectors in Kancheepuram for failing to inspect the pharmaceutical unit since 2022, highlighting regulatory oversights.
The issue came to light after Madhya Pradesh’s drug authority alerted Tamil Nadu on October 1, prompting immediate testing of the suspect batch. Tamil Nadu’s investigation revealed that the syrup was manufactured using non-pharmacopoeial grade Propylene Glycol, contaminated with Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol—nephrotoxic substances known to be poisonous. Tests conducted on October 3 showed a staggering 48.6% DEG content, 486 times the permissible limit.
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Following the alert, Tamil Nadu banned the sale of Coldrif on October 1 to prevent its use by private entities. The state clarified that its government hospitals and clinics, supplied exclusively by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC), had not procured the syrup. The government issued a “stop production” order to Sresan Pharma on October 3 and, two days later, served a notice demanding reasons why the firm’s drug license should not be permanently revoked. A show cause notice was also issued to Ranganathan and analytical chemist K. Maheswari on October 7.
Tamil Nadu promptly informed the Madhya Pradesh government, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the states of Odisha and Puducherry, where the syrup had been distributed, about the contamination. The incident has raised serious concerns about pharmaceutical oversight and the safety of over-the-counter medications in India, with calls for stricter regulations and accountability.
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