Maldives Food and Drug Administration (MFDA) has warned the public after a counterfeit cancer medicine was discovered in the Maldives market.

In a notice published in the Gazette, the MFDA identified the falsified product as Opdivo, an injectable cancer medicine manufactured by Swords Laboratories Unlimited Company in Ireland.

The authority said the counterfeit product had been imported into the Maldives to resemble the genuine medicine.

The affected product carries batch number 8081399, and the MFDA has prohibited its importation, sale and use in the Maldives.

The authority has urged pharmacies, healthcare providers, suppliers and consumers to carefully check the batch number of Opdivo products.

Anyone who identifies the specified batch has been advised to stop using or selling it and follow the MFDA's instructions.

Opdivo, whose active ingredient is nivolumab, is an immunotherapy medicine used in the treatment of several cancers, including melanoma, lung cancer and kidney cancer.

It works by blocking the PD-1 pathway, allowing the immune system to better recognize and attack cancer cells.

The discovery highlights the risks posed by falsified medicines, particularly treatments used for serious conditions where patients depend on the authenticity, quality and safety of the medicine.

The warning also comes amid international concerns over counterfeit cancer medicines.

The World Health Organization has previously issued alerts regarding falsified batches of Darzalex, another cancer treatment, and urged health authorities and the public to remain vigilant.

The MFDA has called on those handling medicines in the Maldives to verify product details and report suspected counterfeit medicines to the authority.