Tests conducted in India on a cough syrup associated with the tragic deaths of a minimum of six children in Cameroon have revealed unspecified quality concerns in at least one of the five samples acquired by regulatory authorities, as per information from two individuals well-versed in the ongoing investigation.
Riemann Labs, among three Indian pharmaceutical companies, has been implicated in the association of their cough syrups with the unfortunate demise of a minimum of 141 children in Gambia, Uzbekistan, and Cameroon since the middle of the preceding year. This development has raised concerns about the quality of pharmaceutical exports from India, colloquially referred to as the “world’s pharmacy” for its pivotal role in providing essential medications at affordable rates to nations in dire need.
In July, the World Health Organization (WHO) disclosed that a sample of Naturcold syrup obtained from Cameroon, attributed to Riemann as its manufacturer in India, exhibited a diethylene glycol toxin level as high as 28.6%, significantly surpassing the permissible limit of 0.10%.
After the WHO alert, Indian authorities took swift action by suspending the production of Riemann, citing violations of good manufacturing practices.
In June, state and federal regulators discovered violations, such as insufficient ventilation during an inspection at Riemann’s factory. This lapse raised concerns about the potential for cross-contamination, as reported by confidential sources.