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WHO Alert on Fake Liver Drug: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert on Monday saying that fake liver medicine is being sold in the markets of India and Turkey. The United Nations global organization WHO in its alert has warned people against the alleged fake drug- Defitelio (Defibrotide).
The alert issued by WHO read, “This WHO medical product alert is in reference to a counterfeit batch of DEFITELIO (defibrotide sodium). “This counterfeit product has been detected in India (April 2023) and Turkey (July 2023) and was supplied outside regulated and authorized channels.”
The World Health Organization states that this drug is used in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) therapy to treat severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD), also known as sinusoidal obstructive syndrome (SOS) goes. It is also used to treat adults, adolescents, children, and infants older than one month. VOD is a condition in which the veins in the liver become blocked and prevent the organ from functioning properly.
According to the UN health body, the actual manufacturer of DEFITELIO has confirmed that the product referred to in the alert is false. WHO has also quoted the version of the real manufacturer of this medicine. The company has stated that genuine DEFITELIO with lot 20G20A is packed in German/Austrian packaging, whereas the packaging of the counterfeit product is from UK/Ireland. The company has also pointed out that the expiry date mentioned on the wrapper of the medicine is also incorrect and does not comply with the registered shelf life. Further, the serial number of counterfeit medicines does not belong to batch 20G20A. The company has also told that it does not have the right to market this medicine in India and Turkey.
This is not the first time that WHO has issued an alert against the said drug. Earlier on May 7, 2020 also WHO had said that this fake medicine is being sold in countries like Argentina, Australia, Latvia, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
