The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued a rapid alert warning against four falsified medicines after laboratory testing found that the samples did not contain their declared active ingredients.
In an alert issued on October 21, 2026, DRAP identified Velosef 500mg capsules, Augmentin 625mg tablets, No-Spa Forte 80mg tablets and Mucaine Suspension as spurious or falsified products.
According to the alert, the Drug Testing Laboratory (DTL) Sindh in Karachi examined the samples referred by a provincial drug inspector and declared them falsified. The manufacturers disowned the samples.
The affected products and batch numbers are:
- Velosef 500mg capsules — Batch LX3E: The sample, purportedly manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan Ltd, was found to lack cephradine, its declared active ingredient.
- Augmentin 625mg tablets — Batch YT9D: The sample, purportedly manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Pakistan Ltd, did not contain amoxicillin trihydrate and clavulanic acid.
- No-Spa Forte 80mg tablets — Batch AN010: The sample, purportedly manufactured by Hoechst Pakistan Limited, lacked drotaverine hydrochloride.
- Mucaine Suspension — Batch 257A088: The sample, purportedly manufactured by Hoechst Pakistan Limited, was also declared falsified in the alert.
DRAP warned that using these products could lead to treatment failure because of the absence of their declared active ingredients and could pose risks to patient safety.
Following the findings, DRAP’s regulatory field force and provincial drug control departments have been directed to conduct surveillance across the supply chain and confiscate the falsified products.
The authority has also urged healthcare professionals, pharmacies and healthcare facilities to exercise heightened vigilance and check supplies for the affected batches. Healthcare professionals have been advised to report suspected adverse reactions or quality problems to the relevant national or provincial pharmacovigilance centres.
Consumers have been advised not to use the affected products and to contact their physicians or healthcare providers if they have experienced any problems after taking them. Suspected incidents should also be reported to DRAP or the National Pharmacovigilance Centre.
The authority has further advised the public to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised retail outlets, carefully check product authenticity and condition, and consult a pharmacist or healthcare professional if they have any doubts.
