Counterfeit Avastin circulating in U.S., FDA warns

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Fake versions of a cancer drug made by Roche's U.S. unit have entered the United States, the Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday.

The FDA advised healthcare professionals and patients that a counterfeit version of Genentech's Avastin (bevacizumab) had been distributed in the United States. The agency said the counterfeit versions carried Roche's logo instead of Genentech's and displayed batch numbers starting with B6010, B6011 or B86017.

The FDA said 19 medical practices in the United States had purchased unapproved cancer medications from a foreign supplier called Quality Specialty Products, also known as Montana Health Care Solutions, while a Gainesboro, Tenn.-based company called Volunteer Distribution was a distributor of QSP's products. The agency said medical practices that had obtained products from Volunteer Distribution and QSP should stop using them an contact the FDA.

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