Two days after the Haryana Food and Drug Administration (FDA Haryana) identified certain spurious batches of the drug Mounjaro KwikPen, a city-based druggist body has flagged concerns over suspected counterfeit batches in the market. The Bangalore District Chemists and Druggists Association (BDCDA) has instructed all pharmacists in Bengaluru to immediately stop selling six batches of the drug suspected to be spurious.
What is Mounjaro KwikPen?
A Mounjaro KwikPen is a multi-dose, pre-filled injection device used as a medication for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. A 2.5mg batch of the drug has a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 13,125, while the 15mg version costs Rs 27,500.
BDCDA's Concerns and Instructions
BDCDA president B Thirunavukkarasu emphasized that counterfeit, spurious, and substandard medicines are not merely regulatory violations but pose a serious threat to public health, patient safety, and the national economy. The association suspects batches of 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg, and 15mg manufactured in 2025 with an expiry date between July and September 2027 to be spurious.
Retail and wholesale traders in the city have been instructed to:
- Suspend the sale and distribution of the mentioned batches.
- Quarantine any available stock.
- Report any issues to the concerned Drug Control Authorities.
- Purchase medicines strictly from jurisdiction-based authorised stockists or licensed distributors only.
The association stated in a letter addressed to dealers: "Once a patient begins to doubt the quality of a medicine, every subsequent dose is taken with fear, uncertainty, and distress... Commercial gain must never be allowed to override professional ethics and human responsibility. Any suspicion of counterfeit medicines must be acted upon immediately."
This action follows the FDA Haryana's earlier alert about spurious batches, underscoring the need for vigilance across the pharmaceutical supply chain. The BDCDA's proactive measures aim to safeguard patients and maintain trust in the healthcare system.
