Watchdog issues alert over four Chinese medicines

LONDON (Reuters) – People should stop taking four traditional Chinese medicines on sale in Britain that contain an acid linked to cancer and kidney failure, the drug safety watchdog said on Thursday. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said patients who have taken the medicine should see their doctor immediately. Officials seized 6,500…

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Medicines recalled as counterfeits still a threat

Anti-impotence drugs, skin-lightening products, steroids, antidepressants and weight-loss drugs were among the products seized by officers of the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) last year. In total, the IMB seized 96,487 tablets, 41,361 capsules, 52,873 liquids and 5,652 creams. It had 797 enforcement cases during the year — a big jump on the 430 orders in…

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They’re Not Going to Take It

Recognizing the growing threat of the availability of counterfeit drugs worldwide, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Products Agency (MHRA) – Britain's version of the FDA – last week published its first Anti-Counterfeiting Strategy. The strategy sets out the MHRA's approach to combating this threat for the next three years, including the launch of a new 24-hour hotline for reporting suspected counterfeit medicines and devices.

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Dangerous counterfeit drugs

Legislation is pending that will open United States borders to imported prescription drugs. If it passes, America could be flooded with dangerous copycat and counterfeit drugs from China and other countries with poor records on consumer safety. If we can't ensure safe children's toys from abroad, how can we ensure safe prescription drugs? Proponents promise…

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Shi YQ, Yao J, Liu F, Hu CQ, Yuan J, Zhang QM, Jin SH. Establishment of an HPLC identification system for detection of counterfeit steroidal drugs. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2008;46(4):663-9.

A set of simple HPLC methods employing UV detection were developed for detection of counterfeit drugs by the qualitative and quantitative analysis of nine steroidal drugs, ethinylestradiol, diethylstilbestrol, norethisterone, norgestrel, methyltestosterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, progesterone, testosterone propionate and nilestriol. The methods were based on studies of the relationships between the retention factors (k) of the nine…

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MHRA launches new action plan to combat UK counterfeit hub

The UK has become an unlikely hub for drug counterfeiters, with the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) last week launching its new three-year action plan to tackle the recent surge in drug fakes head on. While drug counterfeiters tend to manufacture their illegitimate wares in locations such as China or India, the…

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Bryan A. Liang, MD, PhD, JD

Vice President Bryan A. Liang, Ph.D, M.D., J.D. Professor of Anesthesiology Director, San Diego Center for Patient Safety, University of California San Diego School of Medicine Professor Bryan A. Liang is Professor of Anesthesiology and Director, San Diego Center for Patient Safety, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine as well as Vice President, Partnership for Safe Medicines.…

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Regulator targets fake drugs sold on internet

The medicines watchdog is to step up covert internet purchases and testing of suspect pharmaceuticals as part of a new strategy to be unveiled on Thursday. Michael Deats, head of enforcement at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, told the FT that he planned more testing of patented drugs, as well as strengthening of…

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Counterfeit drugs on rise in Austria: government

The counterfeit medication market in Austria has flourished since 2005, with 3,000 more false drugs in circulation, particularly via the Internet, the Austrian health and finance ministries said Thursday. 22 November 2007 Get the full story at afp.com.

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