Toxic Cough Syrup Kills 24 Kids: Supply Chain Fail Exposed

Authorities are investigating whether lapses in the pharmaceutical ingredient supply chain contributed to the deaths of at least 24 children from contaminated cough syrup. The probe focuses on a batch of Coldrif cough syrup found heavily tainted with diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial chemical. Investigators suspect the propylene glycol (PG) solvent used as the syrup's base may have been contaminated during its supply.

Concerns have been heightened as evidence suggests that unlicensed chemical distributors repackaged the PG solvent without proper seals. This practice, which violates pharmaceutical handling regulations, could have allowed the toxic DEG to enter the supply chain. The drugmaker, Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, has had its license revoked, and its founder is in custody.

The incidents cast a shadow over India's pharmaceutical sector, reviving worries about safety standards following previous deaths linked to contaminated cough syrups. While the exact source of contamination remains under investigation, the focus is on how the toxic chemical was introduced into a product intended for children, highlighting critical breaches in product integrity and regulatory oversight.