Roche warns of counterfeit cancer drug in US / Avastin..$6 billion a year drug
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The maker of the best-selling cancer drug Avastin is warning doctors and patients about counterfeit vials of the product distributed in the U.S.
Roche's Genentech unit says the fake products do not contain the key ingredient in Avastin, which is used to treat cancers of the colon, lung, kidney and brain.
A spokeswoman said the counterfeit drug has been distributed to health care facilities in the U.S., though it's unclear how many products are in circulation or where they may be concentrated. The company is working with the Food and Drug Administration to track down the counterfeit vials and analyze their contents.
"We're still analyzing what it is, we know it doesn't contain the active ingredient in Avastin," said Genentech spokeswoman Charlotte Arnold.
"It's an infused medicine and not something a patient would have in their hands, so it's really health care providers who should be on the lookout," Arnold said.
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