Pfizer India has taken multiple actions, including removing its products – whose batch details were copied by counterfeit products – from the market, in response to the crackdown by Karnataka authorities on spurious drugs, the multinational drugmaker said.
Earlier this week, the Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FSDA) had reportedly cancelled the licences of 16 pharmaceutical retailers and wholesalers, and suspended eight others, including that of Pfizer’s depot in Nelamangala – as part of an investigation into spurious drugs in the state. In fact, State Health Minister Health Minister UT Khader had been quoted in media reports saying they had “stopped Pfizer’s sale in the state because they did not cooperate with the investigation.”
In a response to a query from businessline, Pfizer said in a statement: “We have been working together with the authorities through the past one month when the matter of counterfeit medicines was brought to our attention. Since then, we have taken several actions to support the investigation, including removing, from the market, Pfizer batches (where batch numbers were copied by counterfeit) to avoid confusion, supporting to differentiate between original and counterfeit product, and providing technical and other relevant information related to the affected batches.”
The company added that they were “working closely with the authorities to resolve the open queries. Our focus remains on protecting patients, safeguarding public health and maintaining confidence in the healthcare system.”
Published on September 23, 2026
