Counterfeit cancer drug found in supply chain

Generic drugmaker Heritage Pharma has warned that counterfeit copies of its BiCNU cancer drug are circulating in the market.

BiCNU (carmustine for injection) is a chemotherapy drug used to treat lymphomas, myeloma and brain tumours and is sold by Heritage Pharma in the US in 100mg single-dose vials. The company says it issued a safety alert "due to reported sales of counterfeit drug product labelled as BiCNU … 100mg outside of the US."

So far the fakes have been encountered in India, Ireland and Israel, but the company says it is now consulting with the FDA with a view to preventing "the further distribution of this product or its introduction into the US."

"Heritage has directly notified all customers of this product along with providing detailed information that will help identify a counterfeit BiCNU product," said the drugmaker in a statement.

"Customers have been instructed to examine their inventory immediately and to quarantine, discontinue distribution of, and return any suspected counterfeit product."