India investigates suspected counterfeit Abhayrab rabies vaccine vials in Delhi

India’s drug regulator has flagged Abhayrab rabies vaccine vials bearing batch number KE25012 as “not of standard quality” and misbranded after samples failed potency testing. The vials were seized from an unlicensed residential premises in Delhi, and laboratory analysis found 17 differences from authentic reference samples, including discrepancies in labeling, packaging, QR-code verification, cap color and licensing details. Indian Immunologicals Ltd. said the seized vials were not manufactured by its Human Biologicals Institute division and that the genuine batch had passed independent testing and was distributed only through authorized channels. Authorities are investigating the source of the suspected counterfeit doses, with four arrests reportedly linked to a broader alleged spurious-drug operation, though no evidence has established that all seized vials came from the flagged batch. The case has heightened concern in India, where rabies kills thousands of people annually and effective post-exposure vaccination is critical because the disease is nearly always fatal after symptoms begin.