New Delhi, Oct. 27 -- India has issued an urgent regulatory alert and mobilized drug inspectors nationwide after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that a counterfeit batch of Defitelio (defibrotide), an intravenous drug used to treat severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) following haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation, is circulating illegally in domestic supply chains.

"The WHO, through its market surveillance and control regulation and safety department, has informed that a suspected falsified medicinal product bearing the following particulars may be available for sale and purchase in India," said a document dated 23 October, issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization's (CDSCO) enforcement and intellig...