Counterfeit Keytruda is prohibited by Anvisa
- 25 de set.
- 1 min de leitura
Atualizado: 17 de out.
Agency bans sale of counterfeit batches of cancer drug Keytruda and anesthetic Propofol after identifying irregularities
The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) issued an alert regarding the identification and prohibition of counterfeit batches of the drug Keytruda, used in the treatment of various types of cancer, including lung, head, neck, and stomach cancer. The discovery occurred after detailed analysis of packaging that showed obvious irregularities.
The counterfeits were detected through a series of inconsistencies in the packaging, which include:
Visible formatting errors in the presentation of the text and irregular punctuation in the information contained on the packaging;
Significant differences in print quality when compared to the original products;
Inconsistencies in the security and authenticity features of the product.
Anvisa emphasizes that the use of counterfeit drugs poses a serious risk to public health, especially in the case of an oncology drug such as Keytruda, which is essential in the treatment of cancer patients.
Security Measures
The agency ordered the immediate suspension of the sale, distribution, and use of the suspected batches;
It established a more rigorous verification protocol for identifying counterfeit products;
It advised healthcare professionals and patients to purchase the medicine only from duly authorized establishments.
Anvisa recommends that patients and healthcare professionals pay close attention to the characteristics of the packaging and, in case of suspected counterfeiting, immediately report it to the competent health authorities.