Bengaluru, Sept. 20 -- The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration cancelled 16 drug licences and suspended eight others as its investigation into a suspected counterfeit medicine network near Bidadi expands to pharmacies and wholesalers. Among the suspended licences is the wholesale licence of Pfizer Ltd in Bengaluru Rural district.

The action follows the FDA's August 18 raid on an unlicensed facility in Kurubarakeranahalli, near Bidadi, where officials seized medicines, machinery, packaging material and forged labels worth Rs.5.05 crore.

The 16 cancelled licences include those held by Avesco Healthcare, Bangalore Speciality Pharma, Bengaluru Speciality Pharma, Patel Medi Trade, Rajarajeshwari Pharma, N.S. Pharma, Surya Specialt...