FDCs are a blend of two or more drugs to maximise drug efficacy and can promote antibiotic resistance if they are not designed rationally. The study also identified approved drugs that were irrational — ofloxacin and the anti-protozoa drug ornidazole were combined even though they had different dosing schedules and could worsen diarrhoea. Around 42% of the FDCs sold in India in 2011-12 included at least one “highest priority critically important antimicrobials” as designated by the World Health Organisation. Eight of these combinations included two antibiotics, and only two of the eight were approved in India, while none were approved in the U.S. and the U.K. Several multinationals were found to be selling unapproved FDCs in India as well.

Source: The Hindu February 05, 2018 18:45 UTC