Recall Alert
DRUG PRODUCTS DECLARED SUBSTANDARD BY DRUG TESTING LABORATORIES PUNJAB
| DRAP Alert No | No I/S/12-25-118 |
| Action Date | 08 December, 2025. |
| Target Audience | – National Regulatory Field Force. – Healthcare Professionals – Physicians, Pharmacists, and Nurses at hospitals and clinics – General Public |
| Problem / Issue | Drug Testing Laboratories Punjab informed that the sample of below mentioned drug product has been declared as ‘Substandard’. |
Therapeutic Goods (s) Affected: –
| S# | Product Name | Batch No. | Manufacturers | Remarks |
| 1. | AOTILAS 120 ML SUSPENSION Each mL Contains: Domperidone ………. 1 mg (Reg. # 112505) | S8B05 | M/s Astellas Pharmaceutical (Pvt) Ltd. 15-C Industrial Estate Hayatabad Peshawar. (DML # 000677) | The sample is “Substandard” as it contains the impurity “Diethylene Glycol” above the permissible limit. |
| 2. | Injection. Neudex Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate eq. to Dexamethasone Phosphate: 4mg/ml (Reg. # 32876) | DX032, DX034, DX035 & DX036 | M/s Neutro Pharma (Pvt) Ltd. 9.5-Km Sheikhupura Road Lahore. (DML # 000576) | The sample is declared as “Adulterated” as per section 3 (iv) of The Drugs Act 1976. |
| Risk Statement: | The substandard quality of AOTILAS 120 mL Suspension containing Diethylene Glycol (DEG) above the permissible limit, and the adulterated status of Neudex Injection (Dexamethasone) pose a severe and immediate threat to public health. The populations most likely to be affected include infants, children, elderly patients, pregnant women, and critically ill patients who are prescribed these medicines for gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation, allergic reactions, and emergency medical conditions. Exposure to Diethylene Glycol is highly toxic and may cause acute kidney failure, neurological damage, metabolic acidosis, and death, especially in pediatric patients. The use of an adulterated injectable corticosteroid significantly increases the risk of systemic toxicity, treatment failure, severe infections, shock, and fatal outcomes. Continued availability or use of these products may lead to rapid deterioration of patient health, mass poisoning incidents, irreversible organ damage, and loss of life, representing a highest-level public health emergency requiring immediate recall and strict regulatory enforcement. |
| Action Initiated | – The regulatory field force of DRAP and Provincial Drug Control departments has been directed to immediately conduct market surveys for detection and removal of these products from the market. – All pharmacists and chemists working at distributors and pharmacies should immediately check their stocks and stop supplying these products. The remaining stocks should be quarantined and returned to the supplier/company. –Distributors and pharmacies are advised to be vigilant and report any suspected batch of the product(s) in the supply chain to the DRAP using the online form, or by Email at gsms∂dra.gov.pk. –Regulatory field force of all federating units (DRAP, Provincial Health Departments, and States) has also increased the surveillance in the market to ensure the effective recall of defective product(s). |
| Advice for Healthcare Professionals | DRAP requests to enhance vigilance within the supply chains of institutions/pharmacies/healthcare facilities likely to be affected by this defective batch of the product. -Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with this product may be reported to the National Pharmacovigilance Centre(NPC), DRAP using the Adverse Event Reporting Form or online through this link. -Please click here for further information on problem reporting to DRAP. |
| Advice for Consumers | -Consumers should stop using these product bearing the affected batch number(s). They shall contact their physician or healthcare provider(s) if they have experienced any problem that may be related to using this product. -All therapeutic products must be obtained from authorized licensed pharmacies /outlets. Their authenticity and condition should be carefully checked. If you have any doubts, please seek advice from your pharmacist. |
