Schlagwort: medical product alerts

Falsified meglumine antimoniate ampoules in Iran and Pakistan

This Medical Product Alert relates to confirmed falsified hydrochlorothiazide that has been found to contain glibenclamide instead of hydrochlorothiazide, circulating in the WHO region of Africa. Adverse effects attributed to these products have been reported. Genuine hydrochlorothiazide is used as an antihypertensive and diuretic medicine, whereas glibenclamide is an antidiabetic medicine.

In March 2019, WHO was informed by a nongovernmental organization in Cameroon that a medicine presenting as hydrochlorothiazide 50mg had caused hypoglycaemia in patients. Preliminary testing indicated that the product did not contain any of the stated active ingredient, hydrochlorothiazide, and glibenclamide had instead been identified. Verification with the stated manufacturer confirmed this product to be falsified. The local health authorities were informed of this incident.

This Medical Product Alert relates to the circulation of confirmed falsified Mencevax ACWY in the WHO region of Africa. Genuine Mencevax ACWY is used to prevent meningitis types A, C, W and Y.

On 15 March 2019, the Ministry of Public Health in Niger issued a call for vigilance regarding the circulation of falsified Mencevax ACWY vaccines. This WHO medical product alert provides the details of those products which have been confirmed as falsified to date. Inquiries indicate that the supply chain route of these falsified
vaccines includes other countries in West Africa: as such, increased vigilance is requested in all countries of the region, at all levels of the supply chain.

This Medical Product Alert relates to the circulation of confirmed falsified DUKORAL in the WHO region of South East Asia. Genuine Dukoral is a WHO pre-qualified oral cholera vaccine.

WHO was recently informed by the manufacturer Valneva that 8000 falsified packs of the oral cholera vaccine Dukoral were distributed in Bangladesh. WHO country office and health authorities in Bangladesh have quarantined the falsified vaccines identified to date.

This Medical Product Alert relates to confirmed falsified versions of ICLUSIG 45mg circulating in the WHO Region of the Western Pacific. This is linked to the WHO Medical Product Alert N°2/2019 issued on 31 January 2019 regarding falsified ICLUSIG traded globally. Genuine ICLUSIG, the active pharmaceutical ingredient of which is Ponatinib Hydrochloride, is used to treat different forms of leukaemia.

On 18 February 2019, WHO was informed that a wholesaler based in Malaysia had purchased the product ICLUSIG 45mg with batch number PR072875, presented in English language packaging. This specific product is referenced in the previous WHO Medical Product Alert N°2/2019 and is confirmed falsified.