What To Know About Counterfeit and Illegally Imported Medicines

Patient safety is our primary concern. Counterfeit and illegally imported medicines pose a significant risk to the safety of patients. Genentech employs several anti-counterfeit strategies to combat this global threat to public health and help ensure the integrity of our medicines.

We are committed to giving healthcare professionals and patients the information they need to safely access our medicines. It is vital that we all take steps to recognize and avoid these counterfeit and illegally imported medicines.

How to help protect patients

What you can do as a healthcare professional:

• Always purchase medicines from legitimate distributors that are licensed to operate within the United States. Many of our medicines require special storage and handling, so they are only available from specific authorized distributors. View Genentech's Authorized Distributor Directory.
• Be wary of new or unfamiliar distributors that offer deep discounts.
• Familiarize yourself with the medications you prescribe or dispense to patients, paying specific attention to the presence of altered or unsealed containers or changes in the packaging of the medicine. Products where the labeling is not in English and those which lack a National Drug Code (NDC) number are likely to be counterfeits or illegal imports.
• Bring any differences in the physical appearance or taste of the medicine, or unexpected side effects experienced by the patient to the attention of the FDA (1-800-FDA-1088) and Genentech (1-888-835-2555).
• Be aware that even authentic medicines that are approved for use in other countries may harm patients. These illegally imported medicines may not have been stored or handled properly. They could be contaminated or damaged.

What you can instruct your patients to do:

• Familiarize themselves with the medications they use, paying specific attention to the presence of altered or unsealed containers or changes in the packaging of the product.
• Bring any differences in the physical appearance or taste of the medicine, or any unexpected side effects to the attention of their Healthcare Provider and the FDA FDA (1-800-FDA-1088).
• Always purchase medicines from legitimate pharmacies that are licensed to operate within the United States.
• When purchasing medicine online, visit FDA.gov/BeSafeRx or call 1-888-463-6332 to make sure they are using a safe, legal online pharmacy.

Why counterfeit and illegally imported medicines are a threat

Counterfeit medicines are neither safe nor effective. Analysis of seized counterfeit medicines has shown that they may contain too much or too little of the active ingredients, or none at all. They may even contain harmful chemicals.

Even authentic medicines that are approved for use in other countries may harm patients. These illegally imported medicines may not be stored or handled properly. They could be contaminated or damaged.

The safety and effectiveness of such medicines cannot be ensured.

What we're doing to help protect patient safety

Roche and Genentech employ several anti-counterfeit strategies to help ensure the integrity of our medicines and protect patients from counterfeit medicines, which are neither safe nor effective. Illegally imported medicines may also be harmful to patients.

• We work closely with suppliers to secure our distribution channels.
• We are building a system to track products through the supply chain.
• We use special packaging and printing techniques, so counterfeits are harder to make and easier to spot.

How we're partnering with Government

Where possible, we support local, state and federal government efforts aimed at combating counterfeit and illegally imported medicines.

• We work with government and law enforcement to develop stronger laws and improve enforcement.
• We support efforts to help government agencies identify and prosecute sources of counterfeit and illegally imported medicines.
• We conduct visual and chemical analysis to help identify counterfeit, adulterated, and unapproved medicines.

If there is a concern about a counterfeit or illegally imported version of one of our medicines, we will inform health authorities and assist law enforcement agencies to evaluate the situation and determine appropriate next steps.