Archive for 2007
Counterfeit products pose a real danger to consumers
Whether it's adulterated medicine that can kill, bogus batteries that can burn or wannabe Guccis that simply wear out fast (though they may look stylish for a while), counterfeit merchandise is almost impossible to avoid. According to a recent investigation by Consumer Reports, 14,000 shipments of counterfeits were confiscated in 2006, a record year for…
[...]Pact on drugs, equipment safety inked
Chinese and US drug watchdogs have reached a consensus to be part of each other's inspection and investigation against counterfeits and substandard drugs, the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) said Wednesday. The first-ever Sino-US agreement on drug and medical equipment safety signed on Tuesday led to the consensus, marking a substantial step forward for…
[...]Hotline Part of New UK Anticounterfeit Strategy
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) unveiled an aggressive agenda Nov. 23 for combating the market in counterfeit medicines and medical devices. The plan targets both regulated and unregulated supply chains. The three-year anticounterfeit strategy calls for a complete assessment of current supply and distribution procedures in the UK and outlines the…
[...]IMPACT-ing Prescription Drug Safety
In February 2006, the World Health Organization launched the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT) to build coordinated efforts between countries to address the great deal of harm from fake medicines around the globe.
[...]List of Rogue Online Pharmacies Published by PharmacyChecker.com
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ — Thirty-six "rogue pharmacy" websites were listed today by PharmacyChecker.com. Consumers should be alerted that using these websites may put their health and money at risk. These pharmacies show no evidence of being licensed and may display unauthorized or altered verification seals from PharmacyChecker.com and other third-parties. The list…
[...]Liang BA.* Safety Issues in Regulating Follow-On Biologic Drugs. J BIolaw Bus. 2007;10(4):44-49.
Biologic drugs are expensive, and hence policymakers are considering accelerating copies, or "follow on" biologic products to market using abbreviated pathways. However, important concerns relating to biologic products may have implications for follow on product regulation. The information gaps regarding biologic science, clinical issues associated with product excipients and active ingredient, and supply chain issues…
[...]Kubic TT.* Beer Cooler Biologics! J Biolaw Bus. 2007;10(4):28-32.
Every day, law enforcement officers throughout the United States are engaged in court authorized searches of persons, vehicles, homes and businesses. On occasion, during these searches, officers are surprised at what they uncover. For in some of the most unlikely places, their searches have disclosed the most advanced medicines – biologics, pharmaceuticals products critical to…
[...]Lammons KD. The October 2005 Fake Flu Vaccine Incident. J Biolaw Bus. 2007;10(4):40-43.
In October of 2005, Houston Texas was the site of a fake flu vaccine scam. Approximately 1400 persons were injected with a substance that was purported to be flu vaccine when in fact it was not. The investigation into this incident revealed that the victims had been injected with purified water and none of the…
[...]Class JN.* Behind the Curve: A Critique of NGO Activity with regards to the Safety Concerns of Biologics. J Biolaw Bus. 2007;10(4):33-36.
Non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, play a role in engaging the safety of biological medicines. NGOs should reconsider their roles as safety watchdogs in order to promote positive change with respect to biological medicines. Behind the Curve: A Critique of NGO Activity with regards to the Safety Concerns of Biologics
[...]Roberts R. Counterfeit Biologics: A Personal Narrative. J Biolaw Bus. 2007;10(4):37-39.
Counterfeit drugs are not something that happen to someone else. Real people are affected by fake drugs they buy in pharmacies. It is an experience that teaches us the importance of safety of the drug supply. I know, because I was a victim. This is my story.
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