Casey Calls on FDA to Help Hospitals Deal
With Outbreak of Counterfeit Cancer Drug
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to work with Pennsylvania hospitals and healthcare providers to ensure patients in the state are not receiving a counterfeit cancer drug that has flooded the U.S. market.
This week it was revealed that the cancer drug Avastin has been counterfeited and distributed throughout the U.S. The drug’s counterfeit version is missing an active ingredient that helps patients fight the disease. Currently the FDA does not know how far the drug, which is used to treat cancers of the colon, lung, kidney and brain, has been distributed.
“The idea that a counterfeit cancer drug could enter the U.S. market is shocking and unacceptable,” Senator Casey said. “The FDA needs to step up right away and work with Pennsylvania’s hospitals and healthcare providers to ensure that sick patients aren’t taking this counterfeit drug. Furthermore, the FDA, the pharmaceutical industry, drug distributors, and other stakeholders need to work with Congress to pass legislation to create a nationwide tracking system so this never happens again.”
Pennsylvania’s hospitals and healthcare providers treat millions of patients every year- many of them for cancer. The possibility that these patients could be receiving a counterfeit drug is a call to action for the FDA to step up and help Pennsylvanians deal with this outbreak.
Patients taking Avastin who have questions about the safety of their drug should contact their health providers. Providers can find more information about how to identify counterfeit Avastin on the FDA’s Website by clicking here.
The news leader of the Twin Tiers ...
since 1947
This week it was revealed that the cancer drug Avastin has been counterfeited and distributed throughout the U.S. The drug’s counterfeit version is missing an active ingredient that helps patients fight the disease. Currently the FDA does not know how far the drug, which is used to treat cancers of the colon, lung, kidney and brain, has been distributed.
“The idea that a counterfeit cancer drug could enter the U.S. market is shocking and unacceptable,” Senator Casey said. “The FDA needs to step up right away and work with Pennsylvania’s hospitals and healthcare providers to ensure that sick patients aren’t taking this counterfeit drug. Furthermore, the FDA, the pharmaceutical industry, drug distributors, and other stakeholders need to work with Congress to pass legislation to create a nationwide tracking system so this never happens again.”
Pennsylvania’s hospitals and healthcare providers treat millions of patients every year- many of them for cancer. The possibility that these patients could be receiving a counterfeit drug is a call to action for the FDA to step up and help Pennsylvanians deal with this outbreak.
Patients taking Avastin who have questions about the safety of their drug should contact their health providers. Providers can find more information about how to identify counterfeit Avastin on the FDA’s Website by clicking here.
The news leader of the Twin Tiers ...since 1947
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