Congress Proposes Increasing Penalties for Counterfeit Medicine Traffickers

US Congress proposed a Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act to increase penalties for trafficking of counterfeit drugs to reflect the severity of the crime and harm to the public on November 17, 2011. The bipartisan bill was sponsored by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal,…

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Second Multi-Million Dollar Counterfeit Drug Bust in China

Chinese authorities reported a $315 million counterfeit drug and packaging bust on Thursday November 17, 2011. 16,000 police officers apprehended 1,770 suspects and raided more than 1,400 manufacturing and sales locations, reported AFP. Authorities found banned chemicals, repackaged expired pharmaceuticals and forged qualification documents. Over 100 different formulations from both domestic and foreign pharmaceutical firms…

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Where to Buy Smoking Cessation Medications Safely Online For the Great American Smokeout

November 17 is the 36th Great American Smokeout encouraging smokers to use the date to quit smoking, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. It’s a great time to quit smoking, but consumers need to avoid buying counterfeit smoking cessation medication from fake online pharmacies.

Not all online sources for smoking cessation aids are legitimate sources. Learn more about where to buy and where not to buy here.

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Liang BA*, Mackey TK. Vaccine shortages and suspect online pharmacy sellers. Vaccine (2011), doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.11.016

Abstract Vaccines represent half the products on the FDA Biologics Product Shortages list. As a result, providers and patients may purchase them online, a process rife with patient safety risks. We examined vaccine online availability by assessing up to 5 identified online sellers. We determined if sites were accredited by the National Association of Boards…

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Medicine Counterfeiters Faking Drugs With Chemical Pigments and Animal Feed

In an update to November 8, 2011 news that Chinese authorities capture 65 million fake pills in a crackdown on Chinese counterfeiters, new sources now say that along with the fake medications, questionable and dangerous ingredients were found on sites. Animal feed and chemical pignments were found, as well as corn starch, reported The Associated…

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