Now, govt bans anti-meningitis injection

NEW DELHI: The government has banned Liposomal Amphotericin B, an injection-based drug used to treat potentially life threatening fungal infections including meningitis. The salt ‘amphotericin B’ is on the National List of Essential Medicines.

Ambi some, Fungi zone, Envocin, Lambin and Amphoject are some of the injection-based drugs made from amphotericin B.

“The increasing complaints of potential side-effects on kidney and liver has led us to write letters to state drug regulators. We have asked them to suspend licences for manufacture of Liposomal Amphotericin B. The regulators have informed companies,” GN Singh, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), told HT.

Seven companies, including Abbott, Sun Pharma, Cipla, Panacea Biotech and Bharat Serums, sell the drug under different brand names. The cost of a single injection varies between `1,800 and `8,000. The ban is not part of the one on fixed-dose combination drugs.

Most companies, including Abbott and Panacea Biotech, outsource the manufacturing.

“Our company does not manufacture this product nor carries any licence in this respect. We have sent the above reply to the DCGI,” a Panacea Biotech spokesperson said. Cipla, Sun Pharma and Abbott did not respond to HT’s requests for comments.