Falsified Medical Product Alert N°8/2019
Verorab, Speeda and Rabipur rabies vaccines, and Equirab anti-rabies serum: falsified product alert
WHO issued this alert after confirming that falsified batches of four rabies products were available at patient level in the Philippines during a rabies vaccine shortage. The Philippine FDA issued advisories on each product. Laboratory analyses were being arranged and no adverse reactions had been reported to WHO. The WHO page is dated 31 January 2020, while the Manila Bulletin reported on 18 July 2019 that WHO had issued the alert on 16 July.1,2
- Issued
- 31 January 2020
- Issued by
- World Health Organization
- Name stated on packaging
- Packaging bears the brands of Sanofi Pasteur (Verorab), Liaoning Cheng Da Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Speeda), GSK and Chiron Behring Vaccines Pvt. Ltd (Rabipur) and Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited (Equirab).
- Genuine manufacturer's statement
- WHO said each genuine manufacturer stated it did not manufacture the listed products. Sanofi Pasteur said H1833, H1742 and N1J75V are falsified batch numbers and N1E353M is not valid for the Philippines market.
- Countries where detected
- Philippines
Batches named in the alert
H1833 (Verorab), H1742 (Verorab), N1J75V (Verorab), N1E353M (Verorab), Speeda, Rabipur and Equirab batches are listed in Tables 2 to 4 of the alert
Advice as stated
Do not use the listed products. Anyone who has taken them or had an adverse event or lack of efficacy should seek advice from a health professional and report it to the national authorities. Obtain medical products only from authentic and reliable sources.
Names printed on falsified products are not evidence that the named company made them. Where WHO or a regulator reports the genuine manufacturer's statement, it is shown.
Sources
- World Health Organization, Medical Product Alert N°8/2019: Falsified Rabies Vaccines and Anti-Rabies Serum (31 January 2020)
- Manila Bulletin, WHO warns public against falsified rabies vaccines, serum in PH (18 July 2019)