March 27, Colombo (LNW): Rituximab, a crucial weapon in the fight against lymphatic system cancers, has been at the center of a scandal involving fraudulent production and distribution.
Recent revelations have exposed a disturbing trend where counterfeit medications, including Rituximab and human immunoglobulin, were deceitfully administered to patients through medical supply channels.
Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwellama publicly admitted that the human immunoglobulin contained saline or an unidentified liquid, raising grave concerns about patient safety.
Investigations by News 1st uncovered alarming details: on October 12 of the previous year, Rituximab, a lifeline for cancer patients, was administered as a counterfeit drug. Shockingly, both the counterfeit Rituximab and Human Immunoglobulin were traced back to the same company: Isolez Biotech Pharma.
Cancer experts emphasize the critical role of authentic Rituximab, which can substantially improve patient survival rates by up to 15 percent. However, the counterfeit drugs supplied by Isolez Biotech Pharma jeopardized patient outcomes.
During a recent court session, Deputy Solicitor General Lakmini Girihagama presented damning evidence, highlighting the absence of crucial anti-cancer monoclonal protein in the fraudulent Rituximab.
This revelation comes after testing at the National Cancer Institute, underscoring the dire consequences of the counterfeit medications being administered to vulnerable cancer patients
