Editor’s Note
Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health has issued a clear warning against the use of injectable exosome preparations, noting they are unlicensed locally and by the FDA, with unproven safety and efficacy.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in Qatar has issued a warning against the use of injectable exosome preparations, emphasizing that no such products are licensed for this use in Qatar or by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Ministry stressed that the safety and efficacy of these products for injection have not been scientifically proven and may pose potential health risks.
This warning was part of a circular issued yesterday by the MoPH, alongside two other circulars forming a package of new regulatory measures from the Pharmacy and Drug Control Department. These measures aim to enhance patient and drug safety and improve oversight of pharmaceutical and medical products circulating in the country. The measures include a ban on the use of injectable exosome preparations due to lack of licensing and scientific proof of safety and efficacy, new controls for the handling and use of botulinum toxin preparations, and the implementation of a national system for tracking and tracing drug supply chains within Qatar.
The first circular specifically bans the use of exosome preparations via injection. The MoPH stated it has recently observed the promotion of products containing exosomes, claiming therapeutic or cosmetic benefits. It confirmed that, as of the circular’s issuance date, no exosome preparations are licensed for injectable use for medical or cosmetic purposes by the Pharmacy and Drug Control Department or the FDA.
The MoPH clarified that any circulating exosome products are intended for external (topical) use only and must not be used by any other means, including injection. It emphasized a complete ban on injecting these preparations or promoting them as a medical or cosmetic treatment, or using them outside their authorized indications.
The Ministry explained that the safety and efficacy of exosome preparations when used via injection have not been scientifically proven and may involve potential health risks. It confirmed it will take necessary regulatory, supervisory, and legal actions against violators according to applicable legislation, calling on all relevant parties and individuals to comply with the issued circulars and instructions to safeguard beneficiaries and public health.
The Pharmacy and Drug Control Department also issued a circular implementing a system for tracking and tracing drug supply chains within Qatar, effective from June 18, 2026. Affected entities are given a grace period of no more than one year to comply.
The circular is directed at pharmaceutical factories, companies, distributors, importers, warehouses, and all pharmaceutical institutions in the country, requiring them to adhere to the controls and conditions set by the department for implementing the tracking system.
The circular explains that the system aims to enhance the safety of the pharmaceutical supply chain and ensure the traceability of drugs at all stages of their circulation, whether manufactured locally, imported, or packaged within the country.
The Ministry requires distributors to use 2D Data Matrix barcodes on all drug packages circulating in Qatar. These barcodes must include the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), a unique serial number for each package, the expiration date, and the batch number, according to GS1 standards.
The Ministry also stressed the need to register products through the GS1 Qatar office and obtain the necessary approved numbers for system implementation, including GTIN, Global Location Number (GLN), and Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC), to ensure system compatibility with global best practices and enhance the efficiency of tracking shipping and distribution movements.
In another circular regarding controls for the handling and use of botulinum toxin preparations, the Pharmacy and Drug Control Department confirmed a ban on importing, using, handling, displaying, or distributing any such preparations that are not approved or licensed by the department, in accordance with applicable legislation.
The MoPH emphasized prohibiting the dispensing or selling of these preparations directly to the public, restricting their use to licensed health facilities under the supervision of a physician licensed by the MoPH, due to their pharmaceutical nature and the health risks that may result from their use outside medical supervision.
The department requires health facilities to use the preparations according to the data and approved uses in their registration certificates, prohibiting their use outside authorized indications. It also confirmed that authorized importers and users must maintain approved records documenting all processes of receiving, dispensing, and transferring the preparations, and these records must be available to inspection teams upon request. The circular also prohibits transferring preparations between licensed health facilities without prior approval from the Pharmacy and Drug Control Department, and prohibits their destruction without the department’s approval and according to approved procedures for pharmaceutical waste disposal. Additionally, all forms of advertising or promotion for these preparations are prohibited without prior licensing.