Drug-resistant Bacteria Found in Facilities of 3 Pharma Cos
Aurobindo, Orchid Chem & Asiatic sites
harbouring superbugs due to poor disposal of pharmaceutical waste, alleges an
environment lobby group
Three Indian drug companies have been accused
of causing drug resistant bacteria due to their polluting manufacturing
practices, according to a report by Changing Markets, an environment lobby
group.
The investigation revealed that out of 34
sites tested across India and China, 16 were found to be harbouring bacteria
resistant to antibiotics.
The manufacturing sites of Hyderabad-based
Aurobindo Pharma, Chennai's Orchid Chemicals and New Delhi-based Asiatic Drugs
and Pharmaceuticals were found to be harbouring drug-resistant bacteria due to
poor disposal of their pharmaceutical waste.
The report found resistance to three major
classes of antibiotics - cephalosporins,
carbapenams and fluroquinolones
- in four manufacturing sites.
At eight of the sites under investigation,
resistance to cephalosporins and floroquinolones was detected. “Global pharmaceutical companies whose role
should be to cure sick people and channel resources into the development of new
medicines are actually contributing to the spread of drug-resistant infections
through pollution at their own production sites or those of their suppliers,”
the report titled Superbugs in Supply Chain said.
Aurobindo Pharma, which the report termed as
the “worst offender“ when it comes to dumping waste, did not respond to an
email query sent by ET till press-time. Asiatic Drugs and Pharmaceuticals was
not reachable for comments.
Orchid Chemicals said that the company
follows right channels to dispose waste. “We
are the first zero-effluent discharge company in India. We recycle all liquids
and gases, and dispose solid waste in an authorised way,” said Raghavendra
Rao, MD, Orchid Chemicals.
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