Kenya's Pharmacy and Poisons Board has issued a public alert warning of falsified Lucentis injections found in the local market. The alert, signed by Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ahmed I. Mohamed, advises healthcare professionals to immediately verify the authenticity of any Ranibizumab stocks they hold and quarantine any products they suspect may be falsified. The board identified several physical differences between the fake and genuine products, including incorrect brand names and packaging.
The falsified product, bearing batch numbers 18862110 and 18802112, claims to have been manufactured by Genentech and is labelled as "Lucentis," a brand name not registered in Kenya. In contrast, the medicine registered and authorised for use in the country is marketed under the brand name Patizra, manufactured by Novartis. The board cautioned that the counterfeit injections may contain incorrect quantities of the active ingredient, no active ingredient at all, harmful contaminants, or undeclared substances.
The board identified several physical differences between the fake and genuine products. The falsified vials are packaged in dark amber glass, while the authentic product comes in clear glass vials. The fake product is also labelled as containing 0.3mg, whereas the genuine formulation is 10mg/mL. Additionally, the batch numbers, manufacturing dates, and expiry dates on the falsified product do not correspond to any genuine Genentech production records.
One individual was arrested while in possession of the falsified Lucentis injections, the board confirmed. Investigations into the origin of the product and the extent of its distribution are continuing. The board urged all healthcare professionals to source their medicines exclusively from suppliers licensed by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to reduce the risk of counterfeit products entering the supply chain.
The alert was published on Monday, September 28, 2026, and was signed by Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ahmed I. Mohamed on September 24, 2026. The board warned that patients who receive the counterfeit product may not get the intended therapeutic effect. The falsified Lucentis injections are used as an eye injection.
In related news, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board warned of a counterfeit batch of Postinor-2 circulating in Kenya. The flagged tablets carry batch number T34197R and may contain no active ingredient or potentially harmful substances. Two people were arrested as investigators worked to trace the source and distribution of the fake pills.
The board is working to establish the source of the product, the point of entry into the country, and the extent of distribution within the supply chain. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is urging healthcare professionals and the public to be cautious when using medicines and to report any suspicious products to the authorities.
Key points
- One person was arrested in connection with the counterfeit Lucentis injections.
- The falsified Lucentis injections may contain incorrect quantities of the active ingredient or harmful contaminants.
- The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is urging healthcare professionals to source medicines exclusively from licensed suppliers.
