Avastin (Bevacizumab) is a cancer treatment drug manufactured by Genentech, USA. It is a treatment for many different types of cancers. Avastin targets a cancer cell protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This protein helps cancers to grow blood vessels, so they can get food and oxygen from the blood. All cancers need a blood supply to be able to survive and grow.
Avastin blocks this protein and stops the cancer from growing blood vessels, so it is starved and can’t grow. Treatments that interfere with the development of a blood supply are called anti angiogenesis treatments. The drug was among the first so-called designer drugs for cancer — molecules that target a particular protein or cell receptor that cancer cells need to keep growing.
Unfortunately, this life saving drug also become the target of counterfeiters and criminal gangs operating in the pharmaceutical industry. A release by The Food and Drug Administration says counterfeit Avastin, a costly cancer drug, has made its way to doctors in the United States. The counterfeit doesn’t contain the active ingredient. Following this discovery, almost 1,000 FDA warning letters were sent to physicians and medical practices in 48 different states and two US territories, as more batches of counterfeit Avastin were uncovered. In response, criminal prosecutions have been pursued against certain distributors and clinicians, and other individuals who trafficked, sold, purchased, and/or administered an unsafe and ineffective treatment while also defrauding the government.
How to Spot Fake Avastin (Bevacizumab)
According to the FDA the Fake Avastin came from a foreign supplier called Quality Specialty Products. It also goes by the name Montana Health Care Solutions. (An Internet search turned up companies with these names that do not appear to be the ones the FDA is referring to.) The agency says the drug was distributed by Volunteer Distribution in Gainesboro, Tenn.
The fake Avastin comes in 400-milligram vials that cost $2,400. Last year Avastin racked up more than $2.5 billion in sales. Avastin is approved to treat colorectal, lung, kidney and brain cancer. The FDA, acting on a tip from its British counterpart, has identified three lot numbers on the packages of counterfeit Avastin. The labels look different from legitimate Avastin — they have foreign text as well as English, and they carry a Roche logo. Legal Avastin has labels with only English text and the name Genentech, a Roche subsidiary.
Doctors who got the FDA’s letters are being told to stop administering products from Quality Specialty Products or Volunteer Distribution, “or any other unapproved foreign source.”
Side Effects you Can Expect From Genuine Avastin
COMMON side effects
If experienced, these tend to have a Severe expression
- Bleeding Of The Stomach Or Intestines
- Blood Clot Formation In Veins
- Blood Coming From Anus
- Elevation Of Proteins In The Urine
- High Blood Pressure
- Low Levels Of A Type Of White Blood Cell Called Neutrophils
- Low Levels Of White Blood Cells
- Secondary Ovarian Failure, A Condition Where Ovaries Stop Working Before Age 40
- Skin Rash With Sloughing
- Stomatitis, A Condition With Painful Swelling And Sores Inside The Mouth
- Trouble Breathing
If experienced, these tend to have a Less Severe expression
- A Common Cold
- A Stuffy And Runny Nose
- Backache
- Decreased Appetite
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Dry Skin
- Excessive Watery Eyes
- Generalized Weakness
- Headache
- Joint Pain
- Low Energy
- Muscle Pain
- Nausea
- Nosebleed
- Peripheral Sensory Nerve Disorder
- Stomach Cramps
- Taste Impairment
- Vomiting
INFREQUENT side effects
If experienced, these tend to have a Severe expression
- A Blood Clot
- A Hypersensitivity Reaction To A Drug
- A Skin Ulcer
- An Infection
- Blocked Bowels With Decreased Peristaltic Movement
- Blood Clot In A Deep Vein Of The Extremities
- Chest Pain
- Decreased Blood Platelets
- Decreased Kidney Function
- Dehydration
- Fainting
- Inflammation Of The Large Intestine
- Low Amount Of Magnesium In The Blood
- Low Amount Of Sodium In The Blood
- Low Blood Pressure
- Stomach Or Intestinal Ulcer
If experienced, these tend to have a Less Severe expression
- A Change In Voice
- A Decreased Number Of Lymphocytes In The Blood
- A Type Of Speech Disorder Called Dysarthria
- Angina, A Type Of Chest Pain
- Constipation
- Dry Mouth
- Hair Loss
- Hemorrhoids
- Indigestion
- Muscle Weakness
- Nasal Passage Irritation
- Pain
- Pelvic Pain
- Runny Nose
- Soreness Of The Rectal Area
- Weight Loss
RARE side effects
If experienced, these tend to have a Severe expression
- A Decrease In Blood Supply To The Intestines Resulting In Portions Of The Intestine Dying
- A Fistula Between Two Body Organs
- A Gastrointestinal Tract Fistula
- A Heart Attack
- A Hemorrhage In The Brain
- A Hole In The Wall Of The Gallbladder
- A Localized Weakening And Ballooning In An Artery Wall Called An Arterial Aneurysm
- A Rupture In The Wall Of The Stomach Or Intestine
- A Significant Type Of Allergic Reaction Called Anaphylaxis
- A Stroke
- A Transient Ischemic Attack, A Type Of Stroke That Lasts Only A Few Minutes
- A Type Of Blood Disorder With A Decrease In All Types Of Blood Cells Called Pancytopenia
- A Type Of Brain Disorder Called Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome
- An Abnormal Connection Between The Esophagus And Windpipe
- An Acute Blockage Of The Mesenteric Vein
- An Occurrence Of A Blood Clot In An Artery
- Bleeding
- Bleeding From The Lungs
- Bleeding Not Related To Menstrual Period
- Bloody Vomit
- Cerebral Ischemia, A Lack Of Blood Supply To The Brain
- Chronic Heart Failure
- Coughing Up Of Blood
- Detachment Of The Retina Of The Eye
- Dissection Of Artery
- Dissection Of The Aorta
- Extremely High Blood Pressure
- Hemorrhage From The Conjunctiva Of The Eye
- Impaired Wound Healing
- Inflammation Of The Inside Of The Eye
- Inflammation Of The Serous Membranes In The Body
- Low Amount Of Potassium In The Blood
- Necrotizing Fasciitis
- Nephrotic Syndrome, A Type Of Kidney Disorder
- Perforation Of The Wall That Divides The Nose
- Portions Of The Jaw Bone To Die From Lack Of Blood Circulation
- Problems With Wound Healing After A Surgery
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, A Type Of Blood Disorder
If experienced, these tend to have a Less Severe expression
- Blurred Vision
- Eye Inflammation
- Streaks Or Black Specks Due To Floating Eye Matter
- Wheezing
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