FDA Warns Docs as More Fake Cancer Drugs Hit U.S.

by Nate Wooley | February 7, 2013 1:00 pm

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising doctors about another batch of counterfeit drugs.

The FDA says the fake version of the cancer-fighting drug Avastin contains none of the active ingredients, reports the Associated Press[1]. This is the third counterfeit batch of Avastin — made by Roche (PINK:RHHBY[2]) — to be caught this year.

The batches are labeled “Altuzan,” which is the Turkish version of Avastin. Avastin is an injectable cancer-fighting drug used to treat lung, brain, kidney and colon cancers. However, Altuzan is not approved for use in the U.S. at all.

In a release on its website[3], the FDA says the counterfeit drugs come from one of these companies: Medical King, Pharmacological or Taranis Medical. Any medical professionals with these drugs from these companies should stop using them and contact the FDA immediately[4].

More stories about drugs:

Endnotes:
  1. reports the Associated Press: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_FAKE_CANCER_DRUG_FDA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
  2. RHHBY: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=RHHBY
  3. a release on its website: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/CounterfeitMedicine/ucm338283.htm
  4. contact the FDA immediately: http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/CriminalInvestigations/default.htm
  5. Merck Tumbles on Drug Worries: http://investorplace.com/2013/02/merck-tumbles-on-drug-worries/
  6. 5 of Pharma’s Most Disastrous Drug Approvals: http://investorplace.com/2012/06/5-of-pharmas-most-disastrous-drug-approvals/
  7. Keryx Shares Soar on Upbeat Kidney Disease Drug Results: http://investorplace.com/2013/01/keryx-shares-soar-on-upbeat-kidney-disease-drug-results/

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