The Egyptian Cabinet’s Media Center has responded to circulating claims regarding reports of counterfeit breast cancer medications in the local market.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Center clarified that the reports concerning the oncology drug “Ibrance™ (palbociclib) 125 mg capsules” do not pertain to the Egyptian market, but are for another country.
The Center explained that the EDA confirmed the medication is produced by an international pharmaceutical company that follows a global protocol for monitoring its products.
Whenever counterfeit batches are detected in any country, the company issues a general circular to all its operating markets as a precautionary measure.
The statement noted that while the company identified several counterfeit units in a specific country and issued a global alert, this does not necessarily imply that the suspect batches have entered all markets.
The Center further highlighted that the EDA had already issued an educational bulletin in June—supported by visual aids—regarding this medication.
That bulletin included confirmation from the parent company that the unauthorized units of the aforementioned drug were found outside the Egyptian market.
Finally, the EDA emphasized that its inspectors have not detected any counterfeit units of this drug within Egypt to date.
The authority clarified that should any fraudulent medications be identified, immediate legal action is taken, beginning with an official “Seize and Impound” circular for the specific product batches.
