Recent counterfeit drug warnings in US

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating fake vials of the cancer drug Avastin that may have been sold to doctors in three states. In recent years the agency has warned the public about several pharmaceutical counterfeiting cases:

Jan. 2011 — U.S. prosecutors convict a Belgium man of operating an online pharmacy that sold $1.4 million in counterfeit drugs, including fake erectile dysfunction medicine Viagra.

June 2010 — FDA warns patients about fake versions of the flu medicine Tamiflu sold online. The tablets actually contained an ingredient related to penicillin, which some patients are allergic to.

Jan. 2010 — FDA warns of fake versions of the over-the-counter weight loss pill Alli sold online. The pills contained a prescription-strength weight loss ingredient, rather than the normal drug found in Alli.

Dec. 2006 — FDA says counterfeit versions of several types of diabetes test strips were distributed to pharmacies and stores nationwide. Diabetes test strips are used to measure blood sugar levels, a critical treatment factor for patients with diabetes.

Aug. 2005 — FDA and federal prosecutors indict 11 employees of a Missouri business on charges of conspiring to sell $42 million in counterfeit versions of the cholesterol blockbuster Lipitor. The substance was manufactured in Costa Rica and illegally imported to the U.S., where it was sold to wholesalers.

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Roche issues counterfeit drug warning in US

US authorities have discovered counterfeits of the cancer-fighting drug Avastin which are not safe to use, pharmaceutical company Roche warned on Wednesday.

"The investigation is ongoing and we are assisting the authorities" in the United States, a spokeswoman for the Swiss firm said.

Genentech, Roche's US subsidiary, warned in a statement, "The counterfeit product is not safe or effective and should not be used.

"Chemical analyses of the counterfeit vials tested to date have confirmed the product does not contain the active ingredients for Avastin."

Some of the counterfeit US lots are believed to be labeled as Avastin 400 mg/16 ml and have the serial numbers B86017, B6011 and B6010.

Genentech said the suspect batches differ from the official product, which is certified by the US Drug Administration (FDA).

Genuine Avastin boxes are normally marked with six digit serial numbers and have no letters, stated the company.

Avastin is used to treat colorectal, lung, kidney, breast and ovarian cancer and is among Roche's top-selling drugs with a turnover of 5.3 billion Swiss francs ($5.8 billion, 4.4 billion euros) in 2011.

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View the original article here

Roche issues counterfeit drug warning in US

US authorities have discovered counterfeits of the cancer-fighting drug Avastin which are not safe to use, pharmaceutical company Roche warned on Wednesday.

"The investigation is ongoing and we are assisting the authorities" in the United States, a spokeswoman for the Swiss firm said.

Genentech, Roche's US subsidiary, warned in a statement, "The counterfeit product is not safe or effective and should not be used.

"Chemical analyses of the counterfeit vials tested to date have confirmed the product does not contain the active ingredients for Avastin."

Some of the counterfeit US lots are believed to be labeled as Avastin 400 mg/16 ml and have the serial numbers B86017, B6011 and B6010.

Genentech said the suspect batches differ from the official product, which is certified by the US Drug Administration (FDA).

Genuine Avastin boxes are normally marked with six digit serial numbers and have no letters, stated the company.

Avastin is used to treat colorectal, lung, kidney, breast and ovarian cancer and is among Roche's top-selling drugs with a turnover of 5.3 billion Swiss francs ($5.8 billion, 4.4 billion euros) in 2011.

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View the original article here