Abbott India Recalls Batches of Penicillin Antibiotic After Complaints of Puffed Strips, Probe Underway

Drug maker Abbott India is recalling several batches of its Penicillin G-based antibiotic after receiving a few complaints about puffing of the strips, News18 has learnt.

The American drug maker is voluntarily recalling batches and has asked pharmacies and retailers to stop the sales of Pentids 800, Pentids 400 and Pentids 200 tablets manufactured by newly listed Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd — the contract manufacturing firm. Pentids is primarily used to treat bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, throat, lungs, nose, skin and sexually transmitted diseases like Syphilis.

“Isolated complaints have been reported related to puffed strips in Pentids 800, 400 and 200 tablets,” Abbott India told its retailers, stockists and pharmacies in a letter accessed by News18. “While we are investigating the issue with our manufacturer, a voluntary Level II recall has been initiated out of an abundance of caution.”

In an email response, Abbott spokesperson told News18: “Out of an abundance of caution, Abbott in India has voluntarily recalled Pentids tablets, one of our antibiotic medicines, based on a few reports of puffing of the strips (excess air in the pocket strip) in some batches.”

The spokesperson added, “While we are still investigating the issue with our third-party manufacturer, we are collaborating with our distributors and other partners to facilitate this recall.”

It clarified that “there have been no complaints reported for health concerns. This issue does not affect any other Abbott products and alternatives exist”.

The company has requested its partners to verify the inventory of the batches within shelf life with the respective stockist and retailers to whom the stock of the batches has been sold and take necessary steps for recall of the said stocks from the stockist and retailers concerned. It has instructed those dealers to return stocks of all batches in their possession for evaluation.

Last year, Abbott initiated voluntary recalls of its two top-selling products — antacid Digene Gel of all flavours and a mislabelled batch of thyroid medicine Thyronorm. This year in July, French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi voluntarily recalled its popular anti-allergic brand Allegra suspension syrup and painkiller drug Combiflam suspension from the Indian market.