Delhi High Court lifts ban on 344 FDCDs: Pfizer and P&G gain

You can soon see brands like Corex cough syrup, Vicks Action 500 extra, D’Cold, Benadryl back on the shelves as the Delhi High Court has lifted its ban on 344 fixed-dose combination drugs. Nearly about 454 petitions were filed by drug and healthcare majors challenging the Delhi Government's decision of imposing a ban.

The court had on March 14 stayed the March 10 ban on 344 FDC drugs and this interim order was passed in each and every case filed before it thereafter. During arguments, the drug companies had contended that the government has not properly implemented the powers under section 26A (power to prohibit manufacture of drugs and cosmetics in public interest) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, under which the ban was ordered. Fixed-dose combination drugs, or FDCs, combine two or more drugs in a single pill and are widely used to improve patient compliance as it is easier to get someone to take one drug than several.

On the other hand, the shares of Pfizer which manufactures Corex cough syrup and Benadryl are up by 1.29 per cent as at 1.10 pm. P&G which manufacture Vicks is trading flat.