AGP Clarifies Azomax Counterfeit Alert, Reassures Investors and Consumers
Karachi – July 18, 2026: AGP Limited has issued a detailed clarification to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), emphasizing that recent reports regarding its flagship antibiotic Azomax® (Azithromycin) are based on a counterfeit product and do not reflect any quality or regulatory issue with the company’s genuine medicine.
The clarification comes after widespread news reports and social media posts referenced Prompt Alert No. 97/2026, issued by the Directorate of Drugs Control, Government of Punjab. According to AGP, some reports incorrectly suggested that its genuine Azomax product had been declared substandard or unsafe, creating confusion among investors, healthcare professionals, and the general public.
AGP stated that the government alert specifically relates to a counterfeit batch (Batch No. H5332) recovered from an unauthorized source operating outside the company’s official distribution network. The alert itself clearly states that the recovered medicine was only “purported” to be manufactured by AGP Limited and explicitly confirms that it does not belong to the genuine manufacturer.
Following the recovery of the suspicious samples, AGP conducted a comprehensive authentication process that included examining the packaging, printing characteristics, security features, serialization data, and manufacturing specifications. The company confirmed that the counterfeit medicine was not manufactured by AGP and has submitted its findings to the relevant regulatory authorities, requesting legal and regulatory action against those responsible for producing and distributing the fake product.
The pharmaceutical company stressed that the incident does not involve any manufacturing defect, product recall, regulatory action, or quality failure concerning its genuine products. AGP added that all of its medicines continue to be produced in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-compliant facilities under strict quality assurance and quality control standards.
AGP also highlighted that Azomax generates annual sales exceeding PKR 5 billion, demonstrating continued confidence among healthcare professionals and patients despite the misleading reports. The company reaffirmed its commitment to patient safety, product quality, and regulatory compliance.
To combat counterfeit medicines, AGP has incorporated multiple anti-counterfeit technologies into Azomax packaging, including a colour-shifting OBS AGP security logo, CRISMA security technology, covert machine-readable security printing, and a serialized Track & Trace system that enables verification of every individual pack throughout the supply chain. The company also reproduced these security features in the disclosure to help healthcare professionals and consumers identify genuine products.
AGP reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), provincial drug control authorities, and law enforcement agencies to eliminate counterfeit medicines from the market. The company further stated that it reserves the right to pursue legal action against individuals or entities involved in manufacturing counterfeit products or spreading false and misleading information that could damage its reputation or mislead investors and consumers.
