US Pharm. 2012;37(3):11.
Silver Spring, MD—A counterfeit version of the cancer drug Avastin has been sold to at least 19 oncologists and oncology clinics in this country. Tests of the fake product revealed that the active ingredient in Avastin was missing. The FDA, which is still analyzing the contents of the fake vials, has not received any reports of patient harm. The counterfeit Avastin, which was sold to sites in California, Texas, and Chicago, was imported from Britain and distributed by Volunteer Distribution, a Gainesboro, Tennessee–based wholesaler. The FDA was notified about the fake product by British regulators in December. This and other instances of fake drugs (Lipitor, Viagra, and Alli) in the U.S. may indicate that the drug-counterfeiting trade is on the increase here.
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