Safety concerns prompt PPB to halt use of cancer drug
Pharmacy and Poisons Board: “The Pharmacy and Poisons Board ("the Board") orders the quarantine of Flurasted 500 (5-Fluorouracil) Injection Batch No. HHP24017 Manufactured by Halsted Pharma Private Limited, India."
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has issued a notice calling for the immediate suspension of the use and sale of a popular cancer treatment drug.
According to the board, the decision comes after a series of complaints logged at its offices against the drug Flurasted 500 (5-Fluorouracil) Injection, regarding the appearance of the drug, which has since been a source of confusion.
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“The Pharmacy and Poisons Board ("the Board") orders the quarantine of Flurasted 500 (5-Fluorouracil) Injection Batch No. HHP24017 Manufactured by Halsted Pharma Private Limited, India,’’ the statement reads in part.
The medication is used in the treatment of various types of cancer, particularly for chemotherapy. Its active ingredient, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), interferes with the growth of cancer cells, and it's commonly used to treat colon, breast, and stomach cancers.
''In light of this, the Board advises all pharmaceutical outlets, healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals, and members of the public to immediately quarantine the product batch and stop the further distribution, sale, issuance, or use of the affected batch,'' it added.
