Archive for 2011
Image of fake lipitor from FDA
Lipitor, whether you buy brand name or generic, should always come from licensed bricks and mortar or VIPPS-certified online pharmacy. (Image from FDA)
[...]Always buy Lipitor from a licensed bricks and mortar pharmacy or VIPPS-certified online pharmacy
On Nov. 30th, 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration approved a generic version of Lipitor for manufacture by generic drug maker Ranbaxy Laboratories. While the price break will be a great relief for some, just because a drug is generic doesn’t mean consumers can purchase it from unlicensed websites.
[...]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…
[...]Third Consecutive Chinese Crackdown on Counterfeiters
$7 million dollars worth of fake medicines have been seized by Shanghai police, as well as 96 people arrested. MSN reported that more than 70 different medicines were counterfeited in the seizure of more than 5.5 million capsules. Manufacturing of the counterfeit pills occurred in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, reported authorities, who said that Shanghai,…
[...]Most Common Fake Drugs In US Prey on Chronic Diseases
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) has issued a report warning Americans be careful where they purchase their medications, especially those used to treat chronic diseases like high cholesterol, hypertension, cancer, HIV and bacterial infections. The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest estimates that fake medicine sales in the United States totals $75…
[...]Mackey TK, Liang BA*. The Global Counterfeit Drug Trade: Patient Safety and Public Health Risks. J Pharm Sci. 2011 Nov;100(11):4571-9.
Abstract Counterfeit drugs are a global problem with significant and well-documented consequences for global health and patient safety, including drug resistance and patient deaths. This multibillion-dollar industry does not respect geopolitical borders, and threatens public health in both rich and resource-poor nations alike. The epidemiology of counterfeits is also wide in breadth and scope, including…
[...]Vaccines Sold Online
Screenshots of vaccine advertisementsfrom Liang and Mackey’s research
[...]Online Medicine Sellers Take Advantage of Vaccine Shortages
Some vital vaccines, listed as in short supply by the FDA, are advertised and sold online. Researchers Dr. Bryan Liang and Tim Mackey examined the online advertisers of these vaccines to see whether they were VIPPS accredited pharmacies, or if they were unreliable sources.
Alert: Counterfeit Phentermine Found in the U.S.
This is a reprint from Actavis. Actavis Elizabeth LLC is warning consumers and healthcare professionals that counterfeit Phentermine HCl Tablets (USP 37.5 mg) that contain fenfluramine, a dangerous ingredient, have been found in the United States. Phentermine is an appetite suppressant medicine that Actavis has not distributed in the U.S. since 2008 and does not…
[...]Two British Residents Sentenced for Fake Medicine Crime
Two British residents were sentenced for selling counterfeit medication, as well as Class C drugs and unlicensed medications. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of Great Britain announced the sentencing of two counterfeit drug salesman apprehended in Britain as the result of a successful sting operation of their online medicine website. Between May…
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