Latest news with #AveoPharmaceuticals
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
India bans drugs blamed for opioid crisis in West Africa
India has banned the manufacture and export of two highly addictive opioids – tapentadol and carisoprodol – after a report exposed their role in fueling a drug crisis in West Africa. Aveo Pharmaceuticals, based in Mumbai, was found to be illegally exporting this combination of drugs to countries like Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast. The BBC secretly recorded footage showing an Aveo director admitting that their drugs were 'very harmful' but profitable. The company's factory was subsequently raided and its stock seized. The Indian health ministry announced on Sunday it had started the process to immediately withdraw export and manufacturing licences for the drug combination. It also suspended all operations by Aveo following an audit by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation and the Maharashtra state regulatory authority. 'Approximately 1.3 crore tablets and 26 batches of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients of tapentadol and carisoprodol were detained to prevent further distribution of these potentially dangerous drugs,' the ministry said. India's Food and Drugs Administration vowed stricter monitoring to prevent future illegal exports and safeguard the country's reputation as a major player in the pharmaceutical industry. The Drugs Controller General, Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, said he had withdrawn permission to manufacture and export the combination due to the 'potential of drug abuse and harmful impact on population'. The Independent has reached out to Dr Raghuvanshi for comment. 'Aveo has been on our radar for the past few months. We served them notice in October for non-matching of their manufacturing and distribution records,' an unnamed official from the Maharashtra drug regulator was quoted as saying by The Times of India paper. 'The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization is responsible for testing the exports as per their protocols, and the state does not play a role.' The combination of tapentadol, a powerful opioid, and carisoprodol, an addictive muscle relaxant, is not approved for medical use due to its severe health risks, including breathing difficulties, seizures, and fatal overdoses. 'The medicines have their use separately but their combination is harmful, and it is already banned in India,' the state official explained to the daily. But the drug combination has flooded West African markets, particularly Nigeria, where an estimated four million people abuse opioids. The World Health Organization estimates that around 100,000 people in Africa die each year due to 'falsified or substandard' medication. The BBC investigation found that Aveo and its sister company, Westfin International, had shipped millions of these pills to West Africa, where they were openly sold on the streets. In the secretly recorded exchange, Aveo director Vinod Sharma acknowledged the dangers of the pills. 'This is very harmful for the health,' he said. 'Nowadays, this is business'. When an undercover BBC operative, posing as an African businessman, suggested selling the pills to Nigerian teenagers, Mr Sharma replied, 'OK.' He explained that taking two or three pills at once would allow users to 'relax' and get 'high'. In a statement on its website, Aveo rejected the allegations levelled against it as 'entirely baseless and without merit'. 'We have always adhered to the rules and regulations set by various regulatory authorities to manufacture and export our products,' it said. 'Tafrodol is our registered trademark, which contains both tapentadol and carisoprodol. This combination is licensed by the relevant State Food and Drug Administration and is exported under the necessary No Objection Certificate from the Assistant Drug Controllers and with an export licence issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization.' The national drug regulator, however, clarified that while tapentadol and carisoprodol were approved for use in India individually, their combination was not. 'It is important to note that Aveo Pharmaceuticals isn't the only company in India manufacturing a similar combination product. In fact, several companies are unlawfully using our brand name and logo. We have already filed multiple legal cases against such companies, and the matter is currently being heard in the High Court,' a spokesperson for Aveo Pharmaceuticals said. 'Furthermore, the manufacturing code of tafrodol blister shown in the BBC article does not bear our manufacturing code of our factory depicting it has been manufactured by some other company.'
BBC News
23-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
India don ban two opioids wey dey cause kasala for West Africa
Indian authorities don ban two of di very addictive opioids sake of one BBC investigation wey find out say dem dey ginger public health kasala for parts of West Africa. For letter wey BBC see from di Drugs Controller General of India, Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi tok say dem withdraw di permission to make and export di drugs. BBC Eye bin find say one pharmaceutical company, Aveo don dey illegally export one dangerous mix of tapentadol and carisoprodol for kontris like Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D'Ivoire. Di Food and Drug Administration for India say di company factory for Mumbai don since dey raided and dem seize dia whole stock. Di circular from Dr Raghuvanshi wey dem date to Friday, bin call di BBC investigation for part of why im decide to ban all combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol, wey go start wit immediate effect. E tok say dis ban also come afta officials bin look into "di potential of drug abuse and dia harmful impact ot di population." Tapentadol na powerful opioid and carisoprodol na muscle relaxant wey dey addictive sotay e bin dey banned for Europe. Carisoprodol dey approved for use for di US but only for short periods of up to three weeks. To comot from dis drug fi lead to anxiety, insomnia and hallucinations. Di combination of di two drugs no dey licenced to be used anywia for di world as dem fit cause breathing problems and seizures and overdose on di drug fit kill pesin. Even wit di risks, dis opioids still ne popular street drugs for plenti West African kontris becos dem dey very cheap and widely available. Publicly-available export data show say Aveo Pharmaceuticals togeda wit one sister company wey dem call Westfin International don ship millions of dis drugs go Ghana and oda West African kontris. Di BBC World Service don find packs of dis medicine wey get Aveo logo for sale on di streets of Nigeria and for Ivorian towns and cities. Nigeria wey get population of 225 million pipo, get di biggest market for dis drugs. E dey estimated say about four million Nigerians dey abuse some kain opioid, according to di kontri National Bureau of Statistics. As part of di investigation, di BC send undercover pesin wey act as African businessman wey wan supply opioids enta Nigeria to enta one of di Aveo factories for India. Dis na wia dem feem one of Aveo directors, Vinod Sharma dey show off di same dangerous products, di BBC bin find for sale for West Africa. For di secret recording, di operative tell Sharma say im plan na to sell di drugs give teenagers for Nigeria "wey all love dis product". Sharma reply to dis say "OK" bifor im explain say if users take two or three pills at once dem fit "relax" and agree say dem fit get "high". For di end of di meeting, Sharma tok say, "dis dey very harmful for health" but say "nowadays, dis na business". Sharma and Aveo Pharmaceuticals no ansa request to comment wen BBC first drop dia investigation. India Food and Drug Administration say na for sting operation dem seize all of Aveo stock and match break on further production according o di Friday statemen. E add say dem go carry out more legal action on di company. Di agency say dem dey fully ready ro take action against anybodi wey get hand in "illegal activities wey go spoil di reputation of di kontri". E add say di FDA don dey instructed to carry out more inspections to stop di supply of di drugs.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
India bans two opioids behind crisis in West Africa
Indian authorities have banned two highly-addictive opioids in response to a BBC investigation which found they were fuelling a public health crisis in parts of West Africa. In a letter seen by the BBC from India's Drugs Controller General, Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi said permission to manufacture and export the drugs had been withdrawn BBC Eye found one pharmaceutical company, Aveo, had been illegally exporting a harmful mix of tapentadol and carisoprodol in countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D'Ivoire. India's Food and Drug Administration said the company's factory in Mumbai had since been raided and its entire stock seized. The circular from Dr Raghuvanshi, dated to Friday, cited the BBC investigation in his decision to ban all combinations of tapentadol and carisoprodol, which was to be implemented with immediate effect. He said this also came after officials had looked into "the potential of drug abuse and its harmful impact on population". Tapentadol is a powerful opioid, and carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant so addictive it is banned in Europe. Carisoprodol is approved for use in the US, but only for short periods of up to three weeks. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, insomnia and hallucinations. The combination of the two drugs is not licensed for use anywhere in the world as they can cause breathing difficulties and seizures and an overdose can kill. Despite the risks, these opioids are popular street drugs in many West African countries, because they are so cheap and widely available. Publicly-available export data show that Aveo Pharmaceuticals, along with a sister company called Westfin International, has shipped millions of these tablets to Ghana and other West African countries. The BBC World Service also found packets of these pills with the Aveo logo for sale on the streets of Nigeria, and in Ivoirian towns and cities. Nigeria, with a population of 225 million people, provides the biggest market for these pills. It has been estimated that about four million Nigerians abuse some form of opioid, according to the nation's National Bureau of Statistics. As part of the investigation, the BBC also sent an undercover operative - posing as an African businessman looking to supply opioids to Nigeria - inside one of Aveo's factories in India, where they filmed one of Aveo's directors, Vinod Sharma, showing off the same dangerous products the BBC found for sale across West Africa. In the secretly recorded footage, the operative tells Sharma that his plan is to sell the pills to teenagers in Nigeria "who all love this product". Sharma in response replies "OK," before explaining that if users take two or three pills at once, they can "relax" and agrees they can get "high". Towards the end of the meeting, Sharma says: "This is very harmful for the health," adding that "nowadays, this is business". Sharma and Aveo Pharmaceuticals did not respond to a request for comment when the BBC's initial investigation was published. India's Food and Drug Administration said a sting operation saw Aveo's entire stock seized and further production halted in a statement on Friday. Further legal action will be taken against the company, it added. The agency said it was "fully prepared" to take action against anyone involved in "illegal activities that tarnish the reputation of the country". The FDA has been instructed to carry out further inspections to prevent the supply of the drugs, it said. BBC undercover filming exposes Indian pharma firm fuelling opioid crisis
BBC News
23-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
India bans two drugs behind opioid crisis in West Africa
Indian authorities have banned two highly-addictive opioids in response to a BBC investigation which found they were fuelling a public health crisis in parts of West a letter seen by the BBC from India's Drugs Controller General, Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi said permission to manufacture and export the drugs had been withdrawnBBC Eye found one pharmaceutical company, Aveo, had been illegally exporting a harmful mix of tapentadol and carisoprodol in countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D' Food and Drug Administration said the company's factory in Mumbai had since been raided and its entire stock seized. The circular from Dr Raghuvanshi, dated to Friday, cited the BBC investigation in his decision to ban all combinations of tapentadol and carisoprodol, which was to be implemented with immediate said this also came after officials had looked into "the potential of drug abuse and its harmful impact on population".Tapentadol is a powerful opioid, and carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant so addictive it is banned in is approved for use in the US, but only for short periods of up to three weeks. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, insomnia and combination of the two drugs is not licensed for use anywhere in the world as they can cause breathing difficulties and seizures and an overdose can kill. Despite the risks, these opioids are popular street drugs in many West African countries, because they are so cheap and widely available. Publicly-available export data show that Aveo Pharmaceuticals, along with a sister company called Westfin International, has shipped millions of these tablets to Ghana and other West African BBC World Service also found packets of these pills with the Aveo logo for sale on the streets of Nigeria, and in Ivoirian towns and with a population of 225 million people, provides the biggest market for these pills. It has been estimated that about four million Nigerians abuse some form of opioid, according to the nation's National Bureau of part of the investigation, the BBC also sent an undercover operative - posing as an African businessman looking to supply opioids to Nigeria - inside one of Aveo's factories in India, where they filmed one of Aveo's directors, Vinod Sharma, showing off the same dangerous products the BBC found for sale across West Africa. In the secretly recorded footage, the operative tells Sharma that his plan is to sell the pills to teenagers in Nigeria "who all love this product". Sharma in response replies "OK," before explaining that if users take two or three pills at once, they can "relax" and agrees they can get "high". Towards the end of the meeting, Sharma says: "This is very harmful for the health," adding that "nowadays, this is business".Sharma and Aveo Pharmaceuticals did not respond to a request for comment when the BBC's initial investigation was Food and Drug Administration said a sting operation saw Aveo's entire stock seized and further production halted in a statement on Friday. Further legal action will be taken against the company, it agency said it was "fully prepared" to take action against anyone involved in "illegal activities that tarnish the reputation of the country".The FDA has been instructed to carry out further inspections to prevent the supply of the drugs, it said.
BBC News
21-02-2025
- BBC News
BBC expose one Indian pharmaceutical company wey dey produce and export opiod wey strong pass tramadol illegally for West Africa
One Indian pharmaceutical company dey manufacture unlicensed, highly addictive opioids and dey export dem illegally to West Africa wia dem dey drive a major public health crisis for countries including Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D'Ivoire, one BBC Eye investigation don reveal. Aveo Pharmaceuticals, wey dey based in Mumbai, dey make different pills wey dey go under different brand names and dey packaged to look like legitimate medicines. But dem all contain di same harmful mix of ingredients: tapentadol, one powerful opioid, and carisoprodol, one muscle relaxant wey dey so addictive e dey banned in Europe. Dis combination of drugs no dey licensed for use anywhere in di world and fit cause breathing difficulties and seizures. Overdose fit kill. Despite di risks, dis opioids dey popular as street drugs for many West African countries, because dem dey so cheap and widely available. BBC World Service find packets of dem, wey dem brand with di Aveo logo, for sale on di streets of Ghanaian, Nigerian, and Ivoirian towns and cities. After dem trace di drugs back to Aveo factory for India, BBC send undercover operative inside di factory, wey pose as an African businessman looking to supply opioids to Nigeria. Using hidden camera, BBC film one of Aveo directors, Vinod Sharma, as e dey show off di same dangerous products wey BBC find for sale across West Africa. For di secretly recorded footage, di operative tell Sharma say im plan na to sell di pills to teenagers for Nigeria "wey all love dis product". Sharma no shake. "OK," e reply, before e explain say if users take two or three pills at once, dem fit "relax" and e agree say dem fit get "high". Towards di end of di meeting, Sharma say: "Dis dey very harmful for di health," adding say "nowadays, dis na business." Na business wey dey damage di health and destroy di potential of millions of young pipo across West Africa. For di city of Tamale, for northern Ghana, so many young pipo dey take illegal opioids wia one of di city chiefs, Alhassan Maham, don create a voluntary task force of about 100 local citizens wey dia mission na to raid drug dealers and take di pills comot from di streets. "Di drugs dey make those wey abuse dem mad," Maham tok, "like fire dey burn wen dem pour am kerosene." One addict for Tamale tok am more simple. Di drugs, e tok, don "wast our lives". BBC team follow di task force as dem jump ontop motorbikes and, after tip off about one drug deal, launch raid for one of Tamale poorest neighbourhoods. On di way dem pass one young man wey slump to stupor who, according to locals, don take dis drugs. Wen dem catch di dealer, e bin dey carry plastic bag wey dey filled with green pills wey dem label Tafrodol. Dem stamp di packets with di logo of Aveo Pharmaceuticals. No be just for Tamale na im Aveo pills dey cause palava. BBC find similar products, made by Aveo, wey police seize for oda place for Ghana. We also find evidence say Aveo pills dey for sale on di streets of Nigeria and Cote D'Ivoire, wia teenagers dey dissolve dem inside alcoholic energy drink to increase di high. Publicly-available export data show say Aveo Pharmaceuticals, along with a sister company called Westfin International, dey ship millions of dis tablets to Ghana and oda West African countries. Nigeria, with a population of 225 million people, na di biggest market for dis pills. E dey estimated say about four million Nigerians dey some form of opioid, according to Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics. Chairman of Nigeria Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa, tell BBC say opioids dey "devastating to our youths, our families, e dey for every community in Nigeria". For 2018, after one BBC Africa Eye investigation into di sale of opioids as street drugs, Nigerian authorities try to clamp down on di widely abused opioid painkiller called tramadol. Government ban di sale of tramadol without prescription, impose strict limits on di maximum dose, and crack down on imports of illegal pills. At di same time, Indian authorities tighten export regulations on tramadol. Not long after dis crackdown, Aveo Pharmaceuticals begin to export a new pill based on tapentadol, wey be even stronger opioid, mixed with di muscle-relaxant carisoprodol. West African officials dey warn say opioid exporters appear to dey use dis new combination pills as a substitute for tramadol and to dodge di crackdown. For di Aveo factory cartons of di combination drugs on top dey packed ontop of each other, almost ceiling-high. On im desk, Vinod Sharma lay out packet after packet of di tapentadol-carisoprodol cocktail pills wey di company dey market under different names including Tafrodol, di most popular, as well as TimaKing and Super Royal-225. E tell BBC undercover team say "scientists" wey dey work for im factory fit combine different drugs to "make a new product". Aveo new product dey even more dangerous dan di tramadol e replace. According to Dr Lekhansh Shukla, assistant professor for di National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences for Bengaluru, India, tapentadol "give di effects of opioid" including very deep sleep. "E fit dey deep enough say pipo no go fit breathe, and e fit lead to drug overdose," e explain. "And along with dat, you dey give another agent, carisoprodol, wey also dey give very deep sleep, relaxation. E sound like a very dangerous combination." Carisoprodol don dey banned in Europe because e dey addictive. E dey approved for use in di US but only for short periods of up to three weeks. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, and hallucinations. Wen mixed with tapentadol di withdrawal dey even "more severe" compared to regular opioids, Dr Shukla tok. "na painful experience." E say e no know of any clinical trials on dis combination. Unlike tramadol, wey dey legal for use in limited doses, di tapentadol-carisoprodol cocktail "no sound like a rational combination", e tok. "Dis no be something wey dey licensed to be used in our country." For India, pharmaceutical companies no fit legally manufacture and export unlicensed drugs unless dis drugs meet di standards of di importing country. Aveo ships Tafrodol and similar products to Ghana, wia dis combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol dey, according to Ghana national Drug Enforcement Agency, unlicensed and illegal. By shipping Tafrodol to Ghana, Aveo dey break Indian law. We put dis allegations to Vinod Sharma and Aveo Pharmaceuticals. Dem no respond. Di Indian drugs regulator, CDSCO, tell us say di Indian government recognise im responsibility towards global public health and dey committed to ensuring say India get a responsible and strong pharmaceutical regulatory system. E add say exports from India to oda countries dey closely monitored and say recently tightened regulation dey strictly enforced. Dem also call importing countries to support India efforts by ensuring dem get similarly strong regulatory systems. CDSCO say dem don take up di matter with oda countries, including those for West Africa, and dey committed to working with dem to prevent wrongdoing. Di regulator say e go take immediate action against any pharmaceutical firm involved in malpractice. Aveo no be di only Indian company making and exporting unlicensed opioids. Publicly available export data suggest say other pharma companies manufacture similar products, and di drugs with different branding dey widely available across West Africa. Dis manufacturers dey damage di reputation of India fast-growing pharmaceutical industry, wey dey make high-quality generic medicines upon which millions of pipo worldwide depend on and manufactures vaccines wey don save millions of lives. Di industry exports dey worth at least $28bn (£22bn) a year. Speaking about im meeting with Sharma, BBC undercover operative, wey im identity must remain protected for im safety, say: "Nigerian journalists don dey report on dis opioid crisis for more dan 20 years but finally, I bin dey face to face… with one of di men at di root of Africa opioid crisis, one of di men wey dey actually make dis product and dey ship am into our countries by di container load. E know di harm e dey do but e no care… e describe am smply as business." Back for Tamale, Ghana, di BBC team follow di local task force on one final raid wey dem find even more of Aveo Tafrodol. Dat evening, dem gather for one local park to burn di drugs wey dem seize. "We dey burn am for open for everybody to see," Zickay, one of di leaders, as dem dey burn di packets tok, "so e go send a signal to di sellers and di suppliers: if dem get you, dem go burn your drugs". But even as di fire destroy di small hundred packets of Tafrodol, di "sellers and suppliers" for di top of dis chain, thousands of miles away for India, dey produce millions more - and dey become rich on di profits of misery.
