India Halts Export of Unapproved Painkillers

• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has ordered the immediate cessation of production at Aveo Pharmaceuticals in Mumbai.
• This action follows a BBC investigation revealing the illegal export of an unapproved drug combination to West Africa.
• The combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol, both highly addictive, was found being sold on the streets in Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D’Ivoire.
• Authorities seized 13 million tablets/capsules and 26 batches of APIs during an audit of the company.
• The government has directed the withdrawal of export NOCs and manufacturing licenses for this drug combination.

Source: Hindustan Times, Mint, Hindustan Times, The Hindu