FDA Warns Tocilizumab Allegedly Used to Treat Virus Being Sold on Black Market

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning against black markets allegedly selling Tocilizumab – a medicine used for COVID-19.

Tocilizumab purchased on the illicit market, according to FDA Director-General Eric Domingo, can exacerbate a patient’s health. The World Health Organization (WHO) previously endorsed Tocilizumab as a viable treatment for coronavirus illness (COVID-19).

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According to Domingo, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have already been contacted to trace down the alleged illegal sale of COVID-19 medicine. In the meanwhile, Domingo warned the public against purchasing such medications on the illegal market.

He claimed he had no idea where it came from or if it was a fake or poor product adding that he could assure its safety. Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) agents recently set up an entrapment operation against two people who were reportedly trafficking tocilizumab, a costly arthritis drug.

Based on the previous report, the drug is being sold for P80,000 per bottle, which is about three times the market price, according to the CIDG. Tocilizumab has a wholesale price of P20,000 and a maximum retail price of P28,000, according to CIDG.

According to Deputy Provincial Officer Police Major Daniel Yema, the public should obtain the medicine through a drugstore or a hospital. He warned that the legitimacy of medications bought online or from specific people cannot be assured, according to his statement.

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