The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has issued a public alert warning Kenyans against the use and distribution of a falsified batch of Phesgo, a cancer treatment drug used in the management of breast cancer.
In a statement, the Board said the falsified batch of Phesgo (Pertuzumab/Trastuzumab) 600mg/600mg in 10ml, bearing Batch Number C5290S20, has been detected in the Kenyan market during routine post-marketing surveillance activities.
PPB, which regulates the pharmacy profession and health products under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, said the fake batch poses a serious threat to patient safety because its quality, safety, and effectiveness cannot be guaranteed.
According to the regulator, investigations revealed that the batch number C5290S20 does not match any authentic batch produced by Roche, the manufacturer of the genuine product.
The Board further noted that the falsified product contains a white powder inside the vial, unlike the authentic Phesgo medicine, which is supplied as a ready-to-use liquid solution for subcutaneous injection.
“Phesgo is never supplied as a powder and does not require reconstitution,” PPB said in the alert.
Health officials warned that the falsified medicine could contain harmful, incorrect, or insufficient ingredients that may endanger the lives of patients relying on the treatment.
The Board has now directed procurement agencies, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, pharmacists, pharmaceutical technologists, healthcare workers, and members of the public to immediately stop distributing or using the affected batch.
PPB has further called upon all participants in the pharmaceutical value chain to procure their medicines only from licensed producers, importers, distributors, and retail pharmacies.
“Procurement from non-licensed suppliers is dangerous for patients as well as being a breach of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act,” the communication continued.
The regulatory agency has stated that it is collaborating with other government investigation units to trace any persons or organizations responsible for the dissemination of the fake medicine batch and assured strict measures against them.
The general public and health workers have been encouraged to alert the PPB in case of any suspicions regarding fake or sub-standard medicines.
The allegations can be made using the web portal, *271# USSD, mPVERS smartphone application, or by contacting the Board on the provided email or phone numbers.
The PPB emphasized that it is dedicated to safeguarding public health and ensuring that medicines available in Kenya are of high quality, efficacy, and safety standards.
