Warning made over fake Avastin supply

A counterfeit version of the drug Avastin has worked its way into the global medical supply chain.

US authorities have issued a warning after being tipped off by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

A spokesperson for the MHRA said there was no evidence fakes had reached patient level in the UK. Investigations were ongoing. The MHRA was itself notified by Swiss and Danish authorities, before seizing 126 packs from an unidentified UK wholesaler in mid-December. In addition, 41 packs had been shipped to the US - prompting the MHRA to contact the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA has since issued warning letters to 19 medical practices who it said purchased unapproved cancer medicines that may include counterfeit Avastin. It reported that the fake goods did not contain the medicine's active ingredient, bevacizumab.