Pharmaceutical firms up their game to crackdown on spurious drugs

Indian pharmaceutical companies are stepping up their efforts to combat the problem of counterfeit drugs, employing a variety of strategies, from packaging innovations to engaging private investigation agencies. The stakes are high, as counterfeit medicines not only harm consumers but also tarnish the reputation of leading brands.

Earlier in September, an interstate gang was busted for distributing fake antibiotics to some government hospitals. The drugs — which contained nothing more than talcum powder and starch —were being manufactured in a veterinary medicine laboratory in Haridwar. These fake antibiotics were then circulated across several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,