How to Check Your Cancer Medicine Against DRAP's 2026 Fake Medicine Alerts in Pakistan
Compare your cancer medicine and batch number with DRAP's July 2026 alerts on Jakavi, Darzalex and Sindh lab products, and learn what to do if a pack matches.
If you or a family member takes a cancer medicine, compare its name and batch number with DRAP's three 2026 alerts below, and do not use a matching pack. DRAP, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, issued Alert 37 (Darzalex) and Alert 38 (Jakavi) on 16 July 2026, and Alert 39 (nine oncology products) on 29 July 2026. Do not stop any medicine without asking your doctor.
Falsified cancer medicine is dangerous because a fake can look the same and do nothing. The alert text says such products may contain "no active ingredient, incorrect ingredients, or harmful substances". We read the three alerts on DRAP's own website on 8 October 2026. They are a few months old, but the batches are still worth checking, because medicine stays in homes and shops long after an alert.
The three alerts cover 13 named products
Alert 39 names nine oncology products found by the Drug Testing Laboratory Sindh in Karachi. Alert 38 covers falsified Jakavi tablets. Alert 37 covers falsified Darzalex injection. Together they name 13 products, listed below as DRAP wrote them.
| Alert and date | Products named | Batch numbers named |
|---|---|---|
| 39, 29 July 2026 | Leukeran 2mg, Sarafenib/Sorafenib 200mg, Arimidex 1mg, Lenvaxen 4 capsule, Cyclophosphamide 50mg, Gefimed 250mg, Lenvatinib 10mg, Lenalidomide 10mg, Nintedanib soft gelatin capsule | 512900, GST56925-C, B2417, 26ALV04004, OT0470, 25GST016, C25LN03B3, OC0090, 24250052 |
| 38, 16 July 2026 | Jakavi (Ruxolitinib) tablets, 20mg and 15mg | AVT50, FNR06, SGL04 |
| 37, 16 July 2026 | Darzalex (Daratumumab) injection, 400mg/20mL and 100mg/5mL | STV1K01, MYS7381 |
Alert 39's list gives the nine products and nine batch numbers separately. We could not match each batch to each product from the text we read. If you hold any of the nine products, read the full alert at dra.gov.pk before deciding.
What is wrong with the products in each alert
In Alert 39, DRAP says five products had absent or unidentified active ingredient, and four were unregistered even though the ingredient was confirmed. For Jakavi, a lab found the declared active ingredient absent in batch AVT50. For Darzalex, the maker said the two batches are "not valid".
The Darzalex batches were found in the Maldives and Mexico after supply through non-authorised distributors, and one batch showed visible particles. DRAP lists them because the same supply routes could reach any country. We did not find a DRAP statement that these exact packs were found in a Pakistani shop.
Check your pack in five steps
Look at the box or strip, find the name and the batch number, and compare them with the table. A batch number is printed with the manufacturing and expiry dates. It is not the price or the registration number.
- Find the medicine name and the batch number on the pack.
- Compare both with the table above.
- If both match, do not use the pack, and keep it with the receipt.
- Call your doctor or hospital pharmacy the same day and ask what to do next.
- Report it to DRAP through the "Report a Problem" link on dra.gov.pk.
Do not stop treatment on your own because of an alert. A missed dose can also be harmful. Your doctor must decide the next step and how to get a safe supply.
Buy only from licensed pharmacies and hospital pharmacies
DRAP's advice in all three alerts is the same: obtain medicines only from licensed pharmacies and other authorised retail outlets. Be careful with online sellers, social media offers, and anyone selling a "cheaper imported" pack outside a pharmacy.
Our guide to checking a pharmacy's drug licence in Punjab shows how to confirm a shop. To check whether a medicine is allowed for sale, use the guide to checking a medicine is registered with DRAP. For a specific recalled batch, see the guide to checking if your medicine batch is recalled.
Cancer patients should also know about treatment help. The guide to cancer treatment and financial support at Shaukat Khanum explains one route, and the report on free childhood cancer medicines covers children.
Report a bad pack or a side effect
DRAP asks health workers and the public to report problems to its pharmacovigilance centres, using its Adverse Event Reporting Form or the online link on the alert page. Report even if you are not sure. Write the name, batch, shop and date.
The steps for reporting are in our guide to reporting a medicine side effect to DRAP. If you believe a shop sells fakes, read the guide to reporting counterfeit medicine.
What we could not confirm
We could not confirm which batch belongs to which product in Alert 39. We could not find any DRAP alert on cancer medicines after 29 July 2026 on the recall page, but the page may be updated at any time. This guide is not medical advice.
Common questions about fake cancer medicine alerts
Are these alerts still active?
We found no withdrawal notice on the DRAP pages we read. Treat them as active until DRAP says otherwise.
What if my pack matches a batch number?
Do not use it, keep it, and call your doctor the same day. Do not stop treatment without medical advice.
How do I find the batch number?
It is printed on the box and on the strip, vial or bottle, usually near the expiry date and marked "Batch" or "B. No".
Where can I read the full alerts?
On the Recall Alerts page of the DRAP website at dra.gov.pk, under Safety Info. They are numbered 37, 38 and 39.
Does an alert mean every pack of that medicine is fake?
No. DRAP names specific batches and products. Packs from licensed pharmacies with other batch numbers are not named in these alerts.
Last checked 8 October 2026 on the DRAP recall alerts page and alerts 37, 38 and 39.
About the author
Tax, Bills and Technology Writer
Ali Akhtar is a young and curious voice here at Pakistan Era. He is currently pursuing his A-Levels and has a growing interest in Pakistan’s changing industrial landscape and educational trends. Ali likes to write in a way that helps him explain and explore the world around him. His writing reflects the perspective of the new generation navigating the evolving trends of Pakistan where technology, youth innovation, and shifting opportunities are reshaping the country’s future.
