A large-scale international investigation, titled “The Million Dollar Medicine,” spearheaded by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in collaboration with dozens of media outlets worldwide, revealed an alarming criminal network dedicated to counterfeiting Keytruda, one of the most widely used cancer treatments globally, and introducing it even into public hospitals in Mexico.
One of the most shocking cases is that of Francisco Chávez, a show producer in Mérida. Diagnosed with kidney cancer that had metastasized to his lungs, he received treatment at the Elvia Carrillo Puerto Hospital of the ISSSTE (Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers). After his fourth dose, he began to experience severe symptoms: tremors, paralysis, and critically uncontrolled glucose levels. Chávez documented every medication he received. Years later, a health alert confirmed that the batches matched those of counterfeit products.
The pharmaceutical company Merck reported that it has at least 20 active criminal complaints filed with the Attorney General’s Office regarding the counterfeiting of Keytruda in public and private institutions, and even in military hospitals. For its part, Cofepris (the Mexican Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks) has issued multiple health alerts. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that at least one person in Mexico died after receiving this counterfeit medication.
The mechanism behind this network is alarming: they reuse original vials, refill them with foreign substances—such as antifungals—seal them with specialized equipment, and reintroduce them to the market. While a genuine dose costs around 52,000 pesos for the healthcare system, inflated purchases of up to 125,000 pesos per unit have been detected, exceeding prices in countries like France, Switzerland, and Australia.
Today, Francisco Chávez lives with permanent consequences: chronic pain and episodes of paralysis that prevent him from working. His case remains unresolved due to a lack of resources. He is not alone: at least four similar cases have been documented in the country. According to the pharmaceutical company itself, this medication is an ideal target for crime: if the patient dies, the disease is usually blamed. A perverse scheme that conceals what could be one of the most serious medical frauds.
Source: accasoftcolombia
