Mumbai: Maharashtra Food and Drugs Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, a 2005-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has cancelled the sale and distribution licences of three Cadila Pharmaceuticals warehouses in Thane, Pune and Nagpur over concerns related to similar drug names, wrong medicine supplies and packaging violations.
The action centres on two medicines sold under the Aciloc and Aciloc+ brand names. Although the names differ mainly by a “+” sign, the medicines contain different active ingredients. The FDA said such similarity could create confusion among patients, doctors, pharmacists and distributors and increase the risk of the wrong medicine being supplied.
Aciloc and Aciloc+ Contain Different Medicines
According to the FDA findings, Aciloc 150 and Aciloc 300 contain ranitidine, while Aciloc 150+ and Aciloc 300+ contain famotidine. The two sets therefore do not contain the same active pharmaceutical ingredient despite their closely similar brand names.
Both medicines are used to reduce stomach acid and treat acidity-related conditions. The FDA’s concern was that the similarity in branding could make it difficult to distinguish between products, particularly during ordering, dispensing and distribution.
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Wholesalers Received a Different Medicine
The issue became more serious after FDA inspections found cases where wholesalers had ordered one version but received another.
Pune wholesalers who had ordered Aciloc 150 and Aciloc 300 were supplied Aciloc 150+ and Aciloc 300+, according to reports based on the FDA action. The supplied products contained famotidine instead of the ranitidine in the versions ordered.
This raised concerns about the possibility of a medicine being dispensed with a different active ingredient from the one ordered or expected.
The FDA subsequently prohibited the concerned stock from sale and distribution during the proceedings.
Three Cadila Warehouses Face Action
The action covers Cadila Pharmaceuticals’ carrying and forwarding agent (CFA) warehouses at:
- Bhiwandi in Thane district
- Wadki in Pune
- Nimji in Nagpur district
The FDA conducted inspections at the three facilities in July 2026. Officials found products carrying the Aciloc brand but containing different active ingredients.
Following the proceedings, the FDA cancelled the sale and distribution licences of the three warehouses.
Packaging Rules Also Violated
The FDA also found problems with the packaging of the famotidine products.
Under the applicable Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, famotidine tablets were required to be sold in packs of 14 tablets, according to the reported FDA findings. However, inspectors found Aciloc 150+ packs containing 30 tablets and Aciloc 300+ packs containing 20 tablets.
The packaging issue added another layer to the regulatory concerns surrounding the products.
FDA Commissioner Urges Consumers to Check Labels
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe stressed that medicine names should not create confusion for patients, doctors or distributors.
The department has also advised consumers to pay attention to the generic name, strength and other details printed on the medicine pack, rather than relying only on the brand name. Patients should also ensure that chemists provide medicines according to the doctor’s prescription.
The advice is particularly relevant when different medicines have nearly identical brand names.
Why Similar Drug Names Matter
Brand-name similarity can become a safety concern when medicines contain different active ingredients. A small difference in packaging or naming may not always be obvious during ordering or dispensing, especially in a busy pharmaceutical supply chain.
In this case, the difference between Aciloc and Aciloc+ was mainly the “+” symbol, while the active ingredients were different. The FDA’s action therefore highlights the importance of clear product identification at every stage, from manufacturing and warehousing to wholesale distribution and retail sale.
The Maharashtra FDA has been carrying out wider enforcement drives under Mundhe, with the department saying its focus is on improving food and drug safety and ensuring compliance across the supply chain.
Focus on Safer Medicine Distribution
The Cadila action puts the spotlight on an important but often overlooked part of healthcare — the safe movement of medicines from manufacturers to patients.
For consumers, the case reinforces the need to check the medicine’s generic name and strength and follow the prescription carefully. For pharmaceutical companies and distributors, it highlights the importance of accurate branding, packaging, stock handling and order fulfilment.
The Maharashtra FDA’s action against the three Cadila warehouses is therefore not only about one brand-name dispute. It also underlines the larger responsibility of the pharmaceutical supply chain to ensure that patients receive the medicine they are prescribed, with the correct active ingredient, strength and packaging.
