Uzbek kids' death: Licence of Marion Biotech cancelled by UP authority

The manufacturing licence of Noida-based pharmaceutical firm Marion Biotech was cancelled on Wednesday by Uttar Pradesh authorities, according to officials.

Marion Biotech's cough syrup Dok-1 was linked with the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan. The incident which happened last December had prompted central and state drug authorities in India to launch a probe into the matter.

"The firm's licence was under suspension since January after which a detailed inquiry was initiated. Now the licence of the firm has been cancelled by the Uttar Pradesh Drugs Controlling and Licensing Authority. The firm can no longer manufacture the syrup," a government official said.

On March 3, the Noida Police had arrested three employees of Marion Biotech from its office in Sector 67 while a lookout notice was issued for two of its directors after an FIR was lodged against all of them, the official said.

The FIR had come in the wake of investigation's finding that samples of Marion Biotech's drugs were