Counterfeit Cancer Drug Creates Crisis

The FDA has a potentially life-threatening problem with a cancer drug. Avastin is used to treat colo-rectal cancer as well as tumors of the brain, kidney and lungs. It works by cutting off the blood supply to tumors by blocking the development of blood vessels. This anti-angiogenesis effect was a breakthrough in the treatment of cancer, and for many patients Avastin is a lifeline.
The manufacturer, Roche Genentech, has just announced that it has found counterfeit vials of Avastin in the U.S. These do not contain the active ingredient (bevacizumab), which is quite pricey. The counterfeit products do not have the name Genentech printed on their packaging. How counterfeit Avastin made it into the pharmaceutical supply chain remains a mystery. It is reminiscent of the heparin scandal of 2008 which led to dozens of deaths in this country.