New Delhi, March 11 -- The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued an advisory to pharmaceutical manufacturers, importers, and marketing authorization holders to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945 in the promotion and marketing of prescription medicines, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists and similar drugs indicated for obesity and metabolic disorders, the release said.

The advisory highlights concerns regarding certain promotional activities, including disease awareness campaigns and digital outreach, that may indirectly promote prescription-only medicines to the general public.

CDSCO has clarified that such drugs must be prescribed only by Register...