Known Counterfeit Cancer Drug Foreign Distributor Implicated in New Case

As reported by The Post Star, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) received guilty pleas in New York from Dr. Vincent Koh and his wife, Milly Koh, to a single count each of receiving and delivering misbranded drugs. From July 2010 until March 2012, the Kohs ordered and regularly used a drug labeled Mabthera on patients at the practice. Mabthera contains rituximab, the same active ingredient as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Rituxan, but Mabthera is not approved for sale or use in the U.S.

According to court records, the Kohs purchased the misbranded drugs from Quality Speciality Products (QSP), a CanadaDrugs.com-owned pharmaceutical wholesaler responsible for the importation of counterfeit Avastin, a total of 65 times over a period of 21 months. QSP sent unsolicited faxes offering drugs at lower prices than the couple were currently paying. According to the Post Star, “The practice placed 65 orders with the company, receiving drugs from unspecified foreign countries through Illinois.”

Dr. Koh had practiced in the region for over 30 years, with offices in both Glenn Falls and Poughkeepsie. According to the DOJ, sentencing for the pair is scheduled on March 20, 2018. They each face up to one year in jail, one year of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $100,000. FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph A. Giovannetti is prosecuting the case.