Hong Kong health officials crack down on unregistered WT1 vaccine sales
Hong Kong's Department of Health has intensified enforcement against unregistered pharmaceuticals, seizing over 1,600 unregistered injection products in September 2026 raids linked to alleged WT1 cancer vaccines. Three people were arrested, including a registered doctor, as authorities warn the publ
Hong Kong's Department of Health has stepped up enforcement against the illegal sale and possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products, including those purporting to be cancer vaccines. In a legislative council reply on 7 October 2026, the government detailed actions taken from January 2023 to August 2026, including about 36,200 inspections related to pharmaceutical products and 105 convictions for selling or possessing unregistered drugs. The highest penalty imposed was 10 months' imprisonment or a fine of HK$242,000.
The crackdown follows recent reports of premises offering a so-called 'Wilms' tumour 1' (WT1) vaccine claimed to prevent multiple cancers. The Department of Health received intelligence in July 2026 and launched investigations, culminating in early September 2026 in joint raids with police across multiple locations. Officers seized more than 1,600 suspected unregistered injectable products at four premises, though no items labelled as 'WT1' were found. Three people, including a registered doctor, were arrested for suspected illegal possession of unregistered pharmaceuticals and Part I poisons.
WT1 is not a registered pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong, and the Department of Health stated that no regulatory authority in mainland China or overseas has records of such a product being registered. The department has referred the case to the Hong Kong Medical Council and the Nursing Council of Hong Kong for potential professional misconduct. Authorities are also tracing the source of the products and have notified the Customs and Excise Department about possible illegal imports.
On advertising enforcement, the Department of Health reviewed over 150,000 advertisements across newspapers, magazines, leaflets, billboards, radio, television and the internet from January 2023 to August 2026. It issued more than 1,600 warning letters for suspected breaches of the Undesirable Medical Advertisements Ordinance. For the WT1 case, warning letters were sent to the involved institutions, and the advertisements were removed after the letters were issued. The department also alerted mainland Chinese authorities about advertisements on social media platforms there.
The government has emphasised public education, urging citizens to consult registered doctors and not to trust unverified medical claims. The Department of Health has issued alerts via press releases, media interviews and social media, warning that WT1 is unregistered and that advertisements offering it as a cancer prevention measure are misleading and potentially fraudulent. Letters have been sent to all doctors and private healthcare providers reminding them to comply with the law. The government plans to establish a 'Hong Kong Drug and Medical Device Supervision and Management Centre' within the year to further improve regulatory standards.