Archive for 2013
FDA Warns Consumers to Beware Bogus Diabetes Treatments
Images of bogus diabetes treatments courtesy of the FDA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning diabetics to beware of illegal “natural” remedies for the treatment of diabetes. They pose a serious health danger to diabetics, and are part of the growing trend amongst drug counterfeiters pushing fake natural medications. The FDA has…
[...]Clinical Oncology Tackles Counterfeit Chemotherapy in 2-Part Article
In a two-part series, Clinical Oncology takes a look at the recurrent counterfeit cancer medication scares that have occurred in the last year. The impact on oncologists has been dramatic, with sentencing announced for one doctor, with more prosecutions possibly looming on the horizon. They note that to date, 155 medical practices in the United…
[...]Utah Businessman Sentenced to Year in Prison For Importation of Non-FDA Approved Medicines
On July 31, 2013, Michael Lawrence O’Donnell of Pleasant Grove, Utah, was sentenced to a year in federal prison for operating a series of unlicensed wholesale businesses that sold non-FDA approved prescription drugs to health care providers. O’Donnell imported prescription drugs (including Botox, Zometa, Gemzar, and Aranesp) from the United Kingdom-based company GHRX. He then…
[...]NABP Warns: Fake Online Pharmacy Collective Pretends to Be Canadian Pharmacies
The new NABP report warns that a fake online pharmacy collective is posing as individual, but fake, Canadian pharmacies. In their latest quarterly report, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy calls for strong consumer outreach in response to ever-more sophisticated efforts by fake online pharmacies in disguising the illegal nature of their operations. The July progress report from…
[...]FDA Alert: Healthy Life Chemistry By Purity First B-50: FDA Health Risk Warning – Undeclared Ingredients
This is a reprint of an FDA Alert [Posted 07/26/2013] AUDIENCE: Consumer, Health Professional ISSUE: FDA is warning consumers that they should not use or purchase Healthy Life Chemistry By Purity First B-50, marketed as a vitamin B dietary supplement. A preliminary FDA laboratory analysis indicated that the product contains two potentially harmful anabolic steroids—methasterone,…
[...]UK Citizen Convicted of Supplying $4 Million Worth of Fake Cancer Drugs, Sentenced to 18 Months in Jail
Click here to download stories of medicine counterfeiters including James Newcomb (pdf). On July 11 in Saint Louis, a British citizen was convicted of distributing counterfeit Avastin, sentenced to jail and asked to forfeit close to $4 million in counterfeit drug profits. Richard J. Taylor, a British citizen, has been sentenced to 18 months in…
[...]FDA Alert: Diabetes Treatments: FDA Alerts of Illegal Sales – Undeclared Ingredients
This is a reprint of an FDA Alert [Posted 07/23/2013] AUDIENCE: Consumer, Health Professional ISSUE: FDA is taking action to remove from the market illegal products, including some labeled as dietary supplements, that claim to mitigate, treat, cure or prevent diabetes and related complications. To date, the FDA is not aware of any reports of…
[...]IFPMA Warns Everyone to Be Wary of Fake Drugs in “Watch Out For False Friends”
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) has produced a short video starring an animated “genuine” pill warning consumers and doctors of the dangers of counterfeit drugs. In a post on the Global Health Matters blog, editor Mario Ottiglio explains the reasons for the campaign: “Every day, fake medicines find their way into…
[...]Counterfeit Drugs in America 101: Workshop For Drug Safety A Great Success!
In the last year, there were several cases of counterfeit medication entering the secure U.S drug supply chain via orders made by healthcare professionals. The safety dangers to patients are implicit, but the legal problems healthcare providers face in these cases are not. On Thursday July 18th, the Partnership for Safe Medicines hosted Counterfeit Drugs…
[...]New Chartered Non Profit to Ensure Patient Access to Safe Online Pharmacies
Libby Baney speaking at the 2012 Interchange on online pharmacy patient safety issues. The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP), an informal advocacy coalition started in 2009, has now become a charted nonprofit organization. Focused on online pharmacy safety, it is dedicated to protecting patient safety through legitimate online pharmacies. ASOP’s President is Diane Darvey,…
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