|
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of Haryana has launched an investigation into potential patient safety risks linked to the branding of "Aciloc," a widely recognized pharmaceutical product.
The intervention follows a formal representation from the District Chemists Association of Panchkula, which alerted authorities that the current labelling of "Aciloc 150+" is causing significant confusion among healthcare professionals and consumers.
For decades, the brand name "Aciloc 150" has been firmly established in the medical community as the standard name for tablets containing 150 mg of the active ingredient ranitidine. However, the manufacturer, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., recently launched "Aciloc 150+," a product that replaces the traditional ingredient with 20 mg of famotidine.
Chemists and pharmacists argue that the addition of a "+" symbol is insufficient to distinguish between the two medications. They fear that the visual similarity between the two product names could lead to dangerous errors, including the inadvertent prescription, dispensing, or ingestion of the wrong active pharmaceutical ingredient.
In response to these concerns, the State Drugs Controller of Haryana, Dr. Ripan, has formally contacted the Food and Drugs Control Administration in Gujarat, where the manufacturer is located. The letter urges regulators to thoroughly examine the labelling, nomenclature, and overall approval of these products to determine if they pose a threat to patient safety.
Addressing the gravity of the situation, Dr. Ripan stated, "Patient safety is our highest priority. Doctors and pharmacists should always verify the active pharmaceutical ingredient before prescribing or dispensing medicines with similar brand names to avoid medication errors."
To mitigate immediate risks, the Haryana FDA has issued a directive to the Indian Medical Association and various chemists' associations across the state. Medical practitioners have been advised to exercise extreme caution when prescribing these medications, while pharmacists are being urged to verify the active ingredients before dispensing any products under the "Aciloc" brand name.
This local issue coincides with a broader national effort by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to address the industry-wide practice of "brand name extensions." Following discussions in the Drugs Consultative Committee, regulators have recognized that using the same brand name for drugs with different chemical compositions can mislead consumers. The CDSCO has issued a public notice inviting stakeholders to submit their feedback on the matter by July 17, 2026, to inform future regulatory actions.
|