• 30
  • January
    2012

Globalization provides a wonderful variety of goods and information at lightning speed. Although dangerous products can come from anywhere, there are occasional concerns that manufacturing standards in some countries are not up to the level that the United States demands. Concerns rise when the product is a potentially defective drug, which can cause unintended and severe side effects for consumers in San Francisco and nationwide.

Ranbaxy Laboratories, the largest drug manufacturer in India, has been locked in a three-year legal contest with the FDA and the Department of Justice. In 2008, the FDA prevented the importation of over 30 drugs made by the company, citing problems with the manufacturing and testing processes. According to U.S. prosecutors in the case, Ranbaxy produced "adulterated, potentially unsafe" drugs. The company has earmarked $500 million to settle any criminal or civil liabilities.

The company must also abide by the terms of a recently signed decree, which precludes Ranbaxy from holding a 180-day exclusive marketing window for three of its generic drugs, whose applications are still awaiting approval. The names of the particular drugs were not made known.

The FDA is an important watchdog, and their efforts in this case emphasize that some medicines have the potential to cause harm. But however vigilant the FDA and other regulatory bodies may be, there is always the chance that dangerous drugs can reach consumers.

Modern medicines have undoubtedly improved the lives of many people throughout the world. Drugs have eliminated and mitigated the effects of many diseases. They have helped people live longer and healthier. But occasionally drugs produce detrimental side effects and injure those they were supposed to help heal. In those cases, the people who are harmed deserve adequate compensation for their injuries.

Source: Bloomberg, "Ranbaxy Falls Most Since March on Proposed Settlement Costs: Mumbai Mover," Adi Narayan, Jan. 27, 2012.