What is the Marion Biotech cough syrup accused of killing 18 kids in Uzbekistan?

Uzbekistan has alleged that at least 18 children in the country have died after consuming an India-manufactured cough syrup. Earlier this year, deaths of 70 children in African nation Gambia were linked to cough syrups manufactured by a Haryana-based pharmacy company.

What happened: The health ministry of Uzbekistan said that the children who died in the capital city of Samarkand had consumed cough syrup Doc-1 Max, which is manufactured by Noida-based Marion Biotech. To date, 18 out of 21 children with acute respiratory disease have died as a result of taking Doc-1 Max syrup, the ministry said.

• "It was found that the deceased children, before admission to hospital treatment, took this drug at home for 2-7 days 3-4 times a day, 2.5-5 ml, which exceeds the standard dose of the drug for children," read the statement.
• The syrup was imported into Uzbekistan by Quramax Medical and it was given to children at home without a doctor's prescription, either by their parents or on the advice of pharmacists.

India's response: A joint inspection of Noida facility of Marion Biotech, was carried out by UP Drug Control & CDSCO team. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the samples of the cough syrup taken from manufacturing premises has been sent to Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory in Chandigarh for testing.

Regarding reports from Uzbekistan concerning contaminated cough syrup made by Indian company Marion Biotech, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, the @CDSCO_INDIA_INF is in regular contact with the national drug regulator of Uzbekistan since 27th December. (1/3)

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) December 29, 2022

Marion Biotech: Marion Biotech is headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and operates primarily in the pharmaceutical, herbal, and biotech businesses. According to the Registrar of Companies, the drug company started on May 21, 1999.

• The company's LinkedIn page says that it is a flagship company of the Emenox Group.
• The drug company makes several over-the-counter drugs used to treat pain, fever, and cold. It manufactures products for the Indian market and exports to various countries across the globe in CIS (Russia and ex-Soviet Republics), South East Asia, Africa and Latin America, reported CNBCTV18.

Dok-1 Max Syrup: As per the company's website, the Dok-1 Max Syrup is a combination of three medical ingredients Paracetamol, Guaifenesin, and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, which reduce symptoms associated with cold, flu, cough, fever, and other infectious upper respiratory tract diseases.

Syrup not sold in India: India Today, quoting sources, reported that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation has said that this particular syrup  Dok - 1 Max syrup is currently not being sold in the Indian market.

The Gambia case: In Gambia,  at least 70 children were blamed on cough and cold syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals. Both India's government and the company have denied the medicines were at fault. The government told Parliament that the cough syrup samples of Maiden Pharmaceuticals have been found to be of standard quality.

• The WHO had earlier said that laboratory analysis of Maiden cough syrup had confirmed "unacceptable" amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which can be toxic and lead to acute kidney injury.
• The Gambian National Assembly had concluded that the deaths of 70 children due to acute kidney injury were linked to their consumption of four contaminated syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals, reported The Indian Express.

Pharmacy of the world: India is recognised as the pharmacy of the world as the country produces global standard medicine at affordable cost. India's pharmaceutical exports have more than doubled over the past decade to $24.5 billion in the past fiscal year.