Counterfeit HIV Medication Discovered in UK Supply Chain

United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) admitted that counterfeit versions of two HIV medication have been found in the UK market.

Truvada, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, is a combination HIV therapy. Orifarm, a Danish supplier of parallel-imported and generic pharmaceuticals acknowledged that their supply of Truvada had been compromised by “the presence of counterfeits,” reported Securing Pharma.

Because the medication was distributed through legitimate channels, anyone who received the medication will be contacted by authorities, said the Danish Medicines Agency. The counterfeit medication was identified because the packs and package leaflets are not original, said DMA in a statement.

Additionally counterfeit Viread (tenofovir) also an antiviral medication used to treat HIV has been found in the UK market. MHRA believes that the affected batches contain genuine medication destined for Turkey, however the packaging is counterfeit.The reason for the substitution of fake packaging is still unknown.

By S. Imber