Overseas laboratories have responded positively to inquiries made by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) on testing withdrawn batches of the medicinal drug ondansetron, with discussions on moving forward with the testing currently underway, The Sunday Morning learns. 

The NMRA suspended four batches of ondansetron on 12 December 2025 due to concerns raised over quality following adverse reactions. The product was fully withdrawn from use the following day. 

Following the incident, Indian pharmaceutical company Maan Pharmaceuticals Ltd., the manufacturer of the batches, requested that the products be tested at an accredited international laboratory. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, NMRA Chairperson Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama noted that they had received several quotations in response to inquiries made by the authority regarding the testing of the medication. 

“We have communicated with an Australian medicine regulatory authority, and once we are in agreement, we will move forward with sending medicines for testing,” he said. 

The seven-member committee appointed by the Ministry of Health to investigate the two deaths reported after the use of the medicine is yet to issue a report on the matter.

Ondansetron is a medicinal drug used to prevent nausea and vomiting that is caused by cancer medicines (chemotherapy) or radiation therapy, as well as to prevent nausea and vomiting that may occur after surgery. 

While the NMRA has received confirmation on proceeding with testing from international laboratories, the authority continues to conduct its own testing on the withdrawn medication, although no reportable conclusions have been derived so far.