DCGI orders nationwide crackdown on illegal sildenafil, tadalafil sales across pharmacies and e-platforms

India's drug regulator has directed states to raid unauthorized pharmacies, online sellers and clinics peddling sexual enhancement drugs, tighten prescription compliance and pursue new legislation. Nine companies including Tata 1mg and Apollo 24/7 have been queried, with the $1.15B wellness segment under scrutiny.

— FiledThu, 14 May, 2026, 06:48 IST·First seen Thu, 14 May, 2026, 06:37 IST·Source Mint · Industry

What happened

CDSCO · India's DCGI has ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegal sale of sexual enhancement drugs like sildenafil and tadalafil, directing state regulators to

Key facts

  • $1.15 billion sexual wellness market
  • four-point mandate
  • 9 companies queried

Why this matters

Expect valuation resets and possible consolidation opportunities among smaller online sellers as regulatory overhang pressures unauthorized operators out of the sexual wellness category.