Look-alike, sounding similar drugs likely to face strict action
India has been grappling with the issue of manufacturing and marketing of different drugs with the same brand name for long, a person in the know told ET.
For example, the brand name, 'Olvance' for the antihypertensive drug, Olmesartan, and 'Oleanz', a brand of the antipsychotic drug, Olanzapine. Likewise, the brand, IMOX for amoxicillin tablets for humans, and INIMOX for a combination of amoxicillin and cloxacillin10 as an injection for veterinary use.
Earlier, in January India's Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), India's apex drug advisory body, deliberated on the issue of same brand name (including look-alike and sound-alike ones) for different category of products and it suggested that to ensure patient safety, the manufacturing and marketing of different drugs with same brand name should «not be allowed.»
After that, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS) has written to the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks under the ministry of commerce and industry seeking increased surveillance and monitoring of trademarks associated with pharmaceutical products to identify instances of similarity or confusion.
«It has come to our attention that various drugs, including those with sound alike and look alike names, are being produced and distributed under identical or similar trademarks. The situation not only creates confusion among healthcare professionals and patients but also increases the likelihood of medication errors, adverse drug reactions and other serious health consequences,»
