The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has declared nine cancer medicines fake and illegal, issuing a rapid alert to stop their sale and use across the country.
The alert was issued at the request of the Drug Testing Laboratory Karachi after laboratory analysis found the medicines to be counterfeit and non-compliant with regulatory requirements.
According to DRAP, the samples failed verification because the laboratory could not confirm the authenticity of their active pharmaceutical ingredients. The medicines, reportedly manufactured by companies based in Germany, Bangladesh, and India, have been declared fake and illegal under Section 3 of the Drugs Act, 1976.
The affected medicines are used to treat various types of cancer, including liver, kidney, lung, thyroid, and breast cancer.
DRAP warned that the quality, safety, and effectiveness of the counterfeit medicines cannot be guaranteed, adding that their use could pose serious health risks and may even prove life-threatening for patients.
The regulator has directed provincial drug control authorities and enforcement teams to intensify market surveillance and immediately seize all identified batches from pharmacies, distributors, and other supply chains.
DRAP has also urged distributors, medical stores, and healthcare professionals to immediately report any suspected stock of the counterfeit medicines to the relevant authorities to prevent further circulation.
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