Bold warning: counterfeit medicines like certain batches of IBRANCE (palbociclib) can appear everywhere, including online and in pharmacies, risking patient safety and treatment success.
Original content summary (expanded): The World Health Organization (WHO) issued Medical Product Alert N°7/2025 about nine falsified lots of IBRANCE (palbociclib). These counterfeit capsules were detected in Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, and Türkiye, with notifications to WHO in November 2025. The falsified products were sold directly to consumers online and found at pharmacy level. Genuine IBRANCE is an oral capsule used to treat specific advanced breast cancers.
How to spot falsified IBRANCE: These products misrepresent their identity, composition, and source. The genuine manufacturer confirmed the listed products are falsified and that samples tested contained no active pharmaceutical ingredient. Packaging also showed multiple visual discrepancies. Some counterfeit lots carry valid-looking lot numbers but exhibit packaging, serialization, and capsule printing anomalies.
Specific lot numbers considered invalid or suspicious:
- Invalid for genuine IBRANCE: FS5173, GS4328, LV1850, TS2190.
- Suspected falsification when found with any concerning indicators: GK2981, GR6491, GT5817, HJ8710, HJ8715.
Indicators of falsification include:
- Label claims manufacturing by Pfizer at a specific address in Mission, Kansas (that address may be misrepresented).
- Spelling errors or poor print quality on the label.
- Security foil on the bottle showing the Pfizer logo in black ink.
- Capsules marked with black ink “PBC 125” or unmarked.
- Unusual capsule colors (e.g., bright orange).
Risks to patients: The falsified products reportedly contain no active ingredient, making them unsafe. Using them could lead to failed treatment, cancer progression, and higher risk of death due to a lack of therapeutic effect.
Public and professional guidance: Health-care professionals should report unusual adverse reactions, lack of efficacy, or quality issues to their National Regulatory Authorities or National Pharmacovigilance Centers. WHO urges heightened surveillance of supply chains in affected regions and greater vigilance of informal/unregulated markets, including online platforms. National authorities should immediately notify WHO if counterfeit products are found in their country. If you possess any of these products, do not use them. If you or someone you know used them and experienced adverse events, seek medical advice promptly.
All medical products should be sourced only from licensed suppliers. If you have information about the manufacture or supply of these falsified products, contact WHO at rapidalert@who.int.
Annex: Reference document for WHO Medical Product Alert N°7/2025 (link provided in original alert).
And now a practical takeaway: Always verify product authenticity before use, especially for high-risk cancer therapies. If you’re unsure about a product’s legitimacy, consult a pharmacist or physician and report any suspected falsified medicines to the appropriate authorities or WHO.
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