CDSCO Warns Against Indirect Promotion of Drugs

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued an advisory to pharmaceutical companies across India. The advisory asks drug manufacturers, importers, and marketing authorisation holders to strictly follow the rules under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 when promoting and marketing prescription medicines.

The warning mainly focuses on medicines such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which are commonly used to treat obesity and metabolic disorders. These medicines are classified as prescription-only drugs, meaning they must only be used when prescribed by a qualified doctor.

According to the advisory, the drug regulator has noticed that some companies are promoting these medicines indirectly through disease awareness campaigns, online promotions, and digital outreach programmes. While such campaigns are often presented as educational efforts, authorities believe they may sometimes encourage the public to seek these prescription medicines without proper medical guidance.

The CDSCO has made it clear that prescription medicines should not be promoted directly or indirectly to the general public. The regulator stressed that such drugs must only be prescribed by registered medical practitioners and should be used only for the conditions approved by regulatory authorities.

The advisory also reminds pharmaceutical companies to follow the approved indications and marketing conditions for each medicine. Any promotion that goes beyond the approved uses or tries to influence patients directly could be considered a violation of the law.

Officials said the advisory aims to protect patient safety and ensure responsible marketing of medicines. By enforcing these rules, the CDSCO hopes to prevent misuse of prescription drugs and make sure patients receive proper medical advice before using such treatments.