Pharmacy And Poisons Board Warns Against Use, Sale Of Falsified Cancer Drug Flooding Kenyan Market

• The Pharmacy and Poisons Board CEO Fred Siyoi said there are counterfeit Herceptin 440 mg circulating in the Kenyan markets
• Siyoi said the falsified cancer medicines exhibit discrepancies in contents, packaging, labelling, and other critical aspects
• He notedthat the government and the board are investigating those selling the medicines contrary to the PPB Act (Cap 244)

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) in Kenya has issued a warning to the public regarding a surge in counterfeit breast cancer medication circulating in the country.

The board expressed deep concern over the discovery of a batch of falsified Herceptin 440 mg (Trastuzumab 440 mg), which is used in treating metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer by inhibiting cancer growth.

What qualifies Herceptin 440 mg as fake?

In their statement released on Saturday, May 11, the PPB highlighted that the counterfeit Herceptin 440 mg exhibits discrepancies in contents, packaging, labelling, and other critical aspects compared to the authentic version approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“It bears batch number C5830083. Mfg. Date 12/2021, Exp. Date 11/2024. The public is notified that this specific product is a confirmed counterfeit and is not authorised to be sold in the market,” PPB CEO Fred Siyoi said in a press statement.

“It is a falsified product because of the falsified contents, packaging, labelling, aspects which have been confirmed by the brand owner,” added the statement.

The board disclosed that the purported product batch circulating in Kenya alleges to be manufactured by Roche Products Limited in Germany.

However, the board emphasised that the public should refrain from utilising, distributing, selling, or supplying the product batch with the number C5830083.

PPB stressed that this batch's safety, quality, and efficacy cannot be guaranteed.

Siyoi underscored their collaborative efforts with the government to probe into the individuals behind these illicit actions, which violate the PPB Act (Cap 244).

Rwanda recalls tablets manufactured in Kenya

Meanwhile, in January 2024, Rwanda recalled Fluconazole 200mg tablets manufactured in Kenya, directing wholesalers and importers to stop distributing them.

This followed after the country raised concerns about the quality and safety of the tablets.

President Paul Kagame said they would investigate the impacts of the drugs on the Rwandan population.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Pharmacy and Poisons Boar has warned against the use of counterfeit Herceptin 440 mg in treating breast cancer.

Pharmacy and Poisons Board Warns Against Use, Sale of Falsified Cancer

PPB warns of fake cancer drug Herceptin in Kenyan market | HealthCare