WHO warns against use of 2 cough syrups made by India's Marion Biotech linked to Uzbekistan child deaths

"Cough syrups made by India's Marion Biotech should not be used for children, after the products were linked to 19 deaths in Uzbekistan," WHO said in a statement.

"The two products are AMBRONOL syrup and DOK-1 Max syrup. The stated manufacturer of both products is Marion Biotech (Uttar Pradesh, India). Laboratory analysis found both products contained unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and /or ethylene," it said.

In December, Uzbekistan’s health ministry conducted laboratory studies and detected ethylene glycol in Dok-1 Max, a cough syrup made by Noida-based Marion Biotech, consumed by the children suffering from acute respiratory diseases.

Eighteen out of the 21 children died after taking the syrup, the study had said.

"This WHO Medical Product Alert refers to two substandard (contaminated) products, identified in Uzbekistan and reported to WHO on December 22, 2022. Substandard medical products are products that fail to meet quality standards or specifications and are therefore out of specification," the WHO said in an alert released on its website.

"Both of these products may have marketing authorizations in other countries in the region. They may also have been distributed, through informal markets, to other countries or regions," the WHO alert added.

The UN health agency underscored that 'the substandard products referenced in this alert are unsafe and their use, especially in children, may result in serious injury or death.'

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration department has suspended the production licence of Marion Biotech.

Earlier, in 2022, the WHO had issued a alert, warning against four "contaminated" cough syrups manufactured by an Indian drugmaker, Maiden Pharma, that have been "potentially linked" with acute kidney injuries and 66 deaths among children in the Gambia.