FDA Warns of Counterfeit Procrit

     The Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation uncovered the existence of contaminated counterfeit Procrit also known as epoetin alfa.   As a result of this investigation healthcare providers and consumers are being alerted to the existence of three lots of the counterfeit product labeled as Procrit (epoetin alfa):

·        P007645 – 40,000 units/mL, Expiration 10-2004

·        P004677 – 40,000 units/mL, Expiration 02-2004

·        P004839 – 40,000 units/mL, Expiration 02-2004

    FDA urges all healthcare providers and patients to check the packaging and vials very carefully before using the product.  The counterfeit product has been found to be contaminated with bacteria and represents a significant potential hazard to consumers.

     Additional information concerning this topic may be found at these Web sites:

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2003/NEW00877.html

 http://www.procrit.com/counterfeit/letter.html