Our current drugs in India, global markets safe: Ranbaxy

Beleaguered drug maker Ranbaxy, which agreed to pay $500 million fine to US authorities after pleading guilty to 'felony charges' for making and selling adulterated drugs, on Friday claimed its 'products currently in the Indian market and globally are safe and efficacious'.

"All Ranbaxy products currently in the Indian market and globally are safe and efficacious.

"Ranbaxy stands by the quality of every medicine that the company makes and distributes in India and every country around," the company said in what it called was an 'advisory in public interest for patients, doctors and all its stakeholders'.

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The company's move follows reports of a circular by Mumbai's Jaslok Hospital, that put restrictions on prescribing Ranbaxy Laboratories products.

The hospital had reportedly issued the circular post Ranbaxy's agreement to pay a fine of $500 million fine to US Authorities earlier this month. Other hospitals have, however, not taken a similar step yet.

Ranbaxy was charged by US authorities with violation of good manufacturing practice at its facilities in Paonta Sahib and Dewas in India and hiding facts.

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In 2008, the US Federal Drug Adminstration had banned 30 generic drugs produced by Ranbaxy at its Dewas and Paonta Sahib units, citing gross violation of approved manufacturing norms.

"Ranbaxy operates cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) compliant manufacturing facilities in India and several other countries across the globe," the company said.

The company's India facility are routinely inspected by the Drug Controller General of India and many other leading global regulatory agencies, it added.

Shares of Ranbaxy Laboratories were trading at Rs 381 per scrip in the afternoon trade, down 0.24 per cent from the previous close on BSE.