Drug firm, Panacea Biotec has withdrawn its oral polio vaccine from the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) list of pre-qualified vaccines stating the facility where the vaccine is being manufactured needs further corrective actions. The company withdrew the vaccine despite undertaking several measures regarding refurbishment of the facility and strengthening of QMS from September to December, 2011.
A team from WHO has audited the company’s manufacturing facility at Okhla in the capital from January 3 to February 1, to assess the quality management systems (QMS) applied to production and control of oral polio vaccines (OPV). WHO reported that OPV produced by the company will no longer be supplied through United Nations (UN) agencies.
The company, however, will continue to supply OPVs which were produced prior to the production halt in September 2011, as monitoring and testing of these lots confirm compliance with quality specifications.
Panacea Biotec is one of India’s leading research based health management companies with established research, manufacturing and marketing capabilities.
