(a) whether Government are aware that Toxin injection is used in the country as a wonder drug;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is also a fact that even half a gram of the Bactenium will kill the whole country; and
(d) if so, reasons for allowance of such drugs?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)
(a) & (b) Botulinum Toxin Type-A is protein produced by clostridium botulinum. Botulinum Toxin consists of seven antigenic types of which only Type-A has been used clinically.
The drug was approved for import into India in January, 1994 for the treatment of blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm associated with dystonia.
The drug is being marketed in many countries including UK, USA, Austrialia Japan, France etc.
(c) & (d) It is not true that even half a gram of the Bacterium will kill the whole country. Clostridium botulinum is a spore forming, obligate anaerobe whose natural habitat is soil.
Based on the literature available, the therapeutic dose of Botulinum toxin type A is very low as compared to minimul lethal dose.