Nigeria-bound HIV/AIDS Drugs Seized in Netherlands

Nigeria-bound HIV/AIDS Drugs Seized in Netherlands View larger map What: On November 12, 2008, Dutch authorities seized a shipment of Indian-made abacavir—an antiretroviral drug for HIV/AIDS treatment—bound for Nigeria. The abacavir tablets were found to violate patent rules and were declared counterfeit; however it’s been disputed whether the drugs were actually counterfeit. The Financial Times reported that “dozens” of HIV patients were…

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Thousands of Fake Pills Removed from UK Pharmacies

View larger map Thirty thousand packs of counterfeit life-saving drugs may have been consumed by National Health Service (NHS) patients, including drugs used to treat prostate cancer, strokes, heart conditions and schizophrenia. When: June 2007 Where: The United Kingdom How: According to reports by the BBC, reputable UK wholesalers were “duped by sophisticated counterfeits.” Who:  MHRA; National…

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The Last Line of Defense Against Counterfeit Drugs

Recently, there has been talk in our nation’s Capitol about overhauling the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) presence both in the United States and abroad. This is an important step in improving the safety of prescription medications from the global public health threat of counterfeit drugs and the untold harm they cause unsuspecting consumers. But, with limited budget and resources, will the FDA be able to pull off the task?

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Expert Resources: Testimony: Partnership for Safe Medicines

Expert Resources: Testimony This page is a guide to online resources about counterfeit medicines, internet pharmacy issues, and diversion problems. The material is drawn from hearings before legislatures and from other government-sponsored forums. 2006 July 11, 2006: Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Security. U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy,…

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Counterfeit Drug Sellers – Small Penalties for Big-Time Offenses

The sale of counterfeit prescription drugs is neither harmless nor insignificant. Today, the illicit sale of counterfeit prescription drugs is outpacing the sale of street drugs as many dealers are finding it to be “more profitable” and “less risky.” Counterfeit prescription drugs and street drugs both endanger lives, yet, counterfeit drug sellers face significantly less penalties while making much more money (as much as 2,000 times the profit of crack or heroin). This is a tremendous public health concern around the world and on our domestic front.

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Graham MR, Ryan P, Baker JS, Davies B, Thomas NE, Cooper SM, Evans P, Easmon S, Walker CJ, Cowan D, Kicman AT. Counterfeiting in performance- and image-enhancing drugs. Drug Test Anal. 2009;1(3):135-42

The current drastic escalation in obesity may be contributing to the exponential rise in drugs used for image enhancement. Drugs such as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are perceived as a viable method of achieving a perfect physique. They are also the most widely abused drugs in sport. The Internet has encouraged the abuse of expensive drugs,…

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Consumer Protection Group Opposes Drug Importation Bill

Partnership for Safe Medicines speaks clearly about the dangers of importing prescription drugs from Canada in its statement regarding the proposed “Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act” sponsored by Senators Dorgan (D-ND), Snowe (R-ME), McCain (R-AZ) and Stabenow (D-MI), which would allow for prescription drug importation.

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Proceed with Caution: Safely Purchasing from Online Pharmacies

As today’s economy has more and more people struggle to reduce costs, it is easy to understand why many consumers find purchasing medications online attractive. But online purchases represent the most dangerous example of “buyer beware”: the money you might save through an unverified online drug seller may cost you or your loved ones loss of health or life.

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