A batch of Postinor-2 emergency contraceptive carrying false manufacturer details has been identified in Kenya, with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) warning consumers against using the suspected counterfeit medicine.
The regulator said the affected product is Postinor-2, which contains Levonorgestrel 0.75mg tablets and is used to reduce the risk of pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. The product in question bears Batch Number T34197R and falsely presents itself as having been made by Gedeon Richter Plc.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board in a statement on Thursday said the product was detected during routine surveillance of medicines in the Kenyan market.
Further checks were carried out by comparing the suspected falsified batch with genuine Postinor-2 supplied by Gedeon Richter. The examination revealed several differences between the two products, raising concerns about the authenticity of the batch.
Among the discrepancies noted was the manner in which information had been printed on the suspected fake. The printing technique used on the product was different from that found on authentic Gedeon Richter medicines.
The information leaflet included in the pack also contained a number of printing and spelling mistakes. The Board said these errors were among the features that helped distinguish the suspected falsified medicine from the genuine product.
The packaging itself showed more differences. Genuine Gedeon Richter Postinor-2 cartons are sealed using a hot-melt closure, while the suspected falsified pack uses a different sealing method.
The colour of the carton was also found to vary from that of the authentic product. The orange shade used on the brand name and other sections of the suspected fake was described as being more intense than the colour appearing on genuine packaging.
The Board also inspected the authentication feature on the pack. Once the authentication panel was scratched, the font displayed on the logo did not correspond with the font found on genuine Postinor-2 packaging.
“These observations strongly indicate that the product is falsified and is not manufactured or released by Gedeon Richter,” the board said.
The regulator warned that the suspected fake medicine may not contain the correct formulation required to provide the expected contraceptive effect.
It said the falsified product could contain an incorrect quantity of the active ingredient, contain no active ingredient, have harmful contaminants or include substances that have not been declared.
Such differences could mean consumers do not receive the intended protection after taking the medicine.
The Board urged members of the public to source medicines from authorised outlets and to remain cautious when they notice unusual features on medicine packaging.
Consumers were also advised to check the appearance and identifying details of medicines and to treat products with differences from genuine packs with caution.
The alert follows the Board's surveillance efforts aimed at identifying falsified medicines and keeping products that may put consumers at risk out of the Kenyan market.