Authorities probing ‘counterfeit’ rabies vaccine, says drug regulator
Indian drug regulators have launched an investigation after a batch of rabies vaccines was found to be misbranded and of substandard quality. Authorities are working to determine if the counterfeit products entered the public supply chain.
Why it matters
The discovery of counterfeit medical supplies poses a direct threat to public health and necessitates stricter regulatory oversight.
The Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, has flagged a batch of Abhayrab vaccine, used against rabies, “not of standard quality (NSG)” and “misbranded” after it failed a potency test, raising concerns about the circulation of counterfeits and prompting a probe.
The vaccine samples, bearing batch number KE25012, were seized on April 22 during an enforcement action by the Delhi Police and officials of Delhi’s Drugs Control Department from an “unlicensed residential premises”. They were found to differ from genuine reference samples in packaging, labelling, artwork, QR-code verification, cap colour, and licence details.
Four persons have been arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with the incident so far, and further investigation and appropriate legal action are being undertaken by the competent authorities, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) said in a statement on Saturday (September 5, 2026).
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