Falsified cancer medicine not distributed in Denmark

Update 10 June 2014

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published an updated press release about the falsified medicinal products exported from Italy.

The EMA mentions a number of batches for Avastin® and Mabthera®, which have been exported illegally from Italy since April 2013, and which are suspected of being falsified. The Danish Health and Medicines Authority has examined the additional products mentioned in the EMA’s update and has found that none of the products are distributed on the Danish market.

Update on investigation by Italian authorities into the supply of stolen medicines

Falsified batches of the cancer medicine Herceptin® from Roche have been identified in England, Germany and Finland. None of the affected batches have been distributed in Denmark.

Treatment for breast cancer patients

In Denmark, Herceptin® is only used in hospitals and mainly to treat patients with breast cancer.

Herceptin® contains the active substance trastuzumab. Only the 150 mg strength has been falsified.

Read the EMA’s press release of 16 April 2014

On 17 April 2014, EMA issued an update to the press release on falsified batches of Herceptin®.

The Danish Health and Medicines Authority has examined the additional products mentioned in the EMA’s update and has found that none of the products are distributed in the Danish market.

Read the EMA’s press release of 17 April 2014