False Rituximab samples?

I was pointed to a German documentary about "The truth and its price - two whistleblowers speak up". The video is only in German.

https://www.zdf.de/dokumentation/37-grad/37-die-wahrheit-und-ihr-preis-100.html

At minute 9:22 Rituximab is mentioned. 9:55 shows a picture of an electropheresis result with the text:

Is seems to have become public in 2005, several pharmacies were reported. A legal process started in 2015. Which led to nothing, it seems.

Is this already known knowledge? Any opinions about that?

Edit: What I actually wanted to say is that 1) a pharma company sold e.g. "fake rituximab" and 2) at least one pharmacy sold "fake anti cancer drugs".

 

I don't understand the quote but does it mean that in 2005 to 2015 there was a "fake" version of Rituximab in use in Germany (or elsewhere)? I assume, if so, that it is off the market now?!!

 

Hi @Gingergrrl,

the molecular biologist in the interview (one of the whistleblowers) said in 2005 it became public that "fake anti cancer medicine", amongst others Rituximab, was sold by several pharmacies (the number I don't recall, it was something between 30 and 80). There was a lawsuit in 2015 which, in the end, only led to intellectual property issues.

There are several articles in "Der Spiegel online", where a certain pharmacist in Bottrop (a German city) is accused of having produced "fake anti cancer drugs" (Rituximab is not mentioned explicitly) between 2012 and 2016. There is a lawsuit going on right now.
http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/just...-ermittlern-schwere-fehler-vor-a-1177907.html

At this point I see it's only something in Germany. I cannot say anything about other countries. I suppose there is no problem if the substance comes directly from the producer, avoiding a pharmacy.

I cannot tell if it is off the market. The "fake Rituximab" was sold purposely without any substance, they wanted to make money. I wouldn't be surprised if this was still being done.

 

@Inara, thanks for explaining and this is horrible! My understanding is that the Rituximab that I received came from Genentech (the American pharma company who makes it) to the pharmacy directly at my infusion center.

I hope it is off the market and that cancer and autoimmune patients are not receiving what they believe to be real treatment but just getting saline or something without the active med in it. Nothing really surprises me any more but I am hoping this is not happening.

 

I was also concerned with regard to the rituximab study - or any other study not directly financed by the producer, if it is not so uncommon that "fals drugs" circulate. Maybe that's a bit unreasonable and exaggerated...

 

With regard to the Rituximab studies, the researchers knew they were using the real deal because they tracked B-cell depletion, etc of patients.

 

@TrixieStix
Good point!

But when applied in patients with cancer, wouldn't the doctors measure the B cells, too? And maybe if nothing changes in the B cells, maybe they believe the drug doesn't work? Works Rituximab for 100%?