ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a high alert to Pakistan regarding the circulation of falsified blood cancer medications, triggering a nationwide crackdown by local regulatory authorities, officials said.
According to details narrated by Islamabad based journo Siddeeq Sajid, the UN health agency dispatched formal medical product alerts to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), warning that counterfeit versions of critical oncology treatments manufactured under the names of prominent international pharmaceutical brands are entering supply chains.
ا عالمی ادارۂ صحت (ڈبلیو ایچ او) نے پاکستان کو جعلی بلڈ کینسر ادویات کے حوالے سے ہائی الرٹ جاری کر دیا۔
ڈبلیو ایچ او نے جعلی کینسر ادویات سے متعلق میڈیکل پراڈکٹ الرٹس ڈرگ ریگولیٹری اتھارٹی (ڈریپ) کو ارسال کر دیے۔
ڈریپ نے ڈبلیو ایچ او کی سفارش پر ملک بھر میں جعلی ادویات کے ریپڈ…— Siddeeq Sajid (@S_SajidOfficial) July 20, 2026
In response, DRAP has deployed rapid alerts across the country, ordering an immediate halt to the sale, distribution, and use of several affected batches of Jakavi tablets and Drizalex injections.
According to DRAP, the falsified products include 400 mg doses of Drizalex injection (batch STV1K01) and 100 mg doses (batch MYS7381).
Additionally, specific batches of Jakavi—a treatment used for serious bone marrow and blood disorders—have been compromised, specifically the 20 mg (batch AVT50), 15 mg (batch FNR06), and 10 mg (batch SGL04) variants.
International pharmaceutical giants Novartis and Johnson & Johnson have both reviewed the details and confirmed that the specified batches are counterfeit and did not originate from their manufacturing facilities.
“Laboratory analysis of the seized samples showed that these affected drugs completely failed to meet required quality standards, and their raw materials could not be verified,” DRAP said in a statement. The regulator added that testing of the Drizalex injection samples uncovered the presence of unrelated, unidentifiable particulate matter.
Warnings:
Health officials warned that the efficacy of these counterfeit oncology treatments is highly questionable and poses an immediate, grave risk to patients’ lives.
The scope of the illicit trade extends beyond Pakistan’s borders. DRAP disclosed that the compromised batches of the fake Drizalex injection have also been traced back to supply networks in the Maldives and Mexico.
DRAP has directed provincial drug control authorities to aggressively ramp up market surveillance and inspect distribution lines.
Distributors, pharmacies, and medical institutions nationwide have been strictly instructed to quarantine any remaining stock of the red-listed batches and immediately report any suspicious medical products to the regulator.
