Repackaged injections of the cancer drug Avastin, also known as bevacizumab, have caused a cluster of serious eye infections in the Miami, Florida area, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday. The Florida Department of Health notified the FDA of Streptococcus endophthalmitis infections in three clinics following injections given through the eye of repackaged Avastin, manufactured by Roche Holdings (ROG.VX). Investigators traced the tainted injections to a single pharmacy located in Hollywood, Florida. The pharmacy repackaged the Avastin from sterile injectable 100 mg/4 mL, single-use, preservative-free vials into individual 1 mL single-use syringes.
