Archive for October 2017
Professor Awarded MacArthur Genius Grant For Work On Cybercrime Including Pharmaceutical Spam
The MacArthur Foundation awarded UC San Diego professor Stefan Savage a MacArthur Genius grant for the holistic approach he has taken to addressing 21st-century technological problems, including spam pharmaceutical advertisements…
[...]DEA Warns that More Types of Counterfeit Prescription Drugs Made with Fentanyl are On the Horizon
In their just-released 2017 Drug Threat Assessment, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has sounded the alarm about the role counterfeit prescription pills are playing an increasingly dangerous role in national opioid deaths.
[...]Remembering Tosh Ackerman: One of Counterfeit Medicines’ Countless Victims
Two years ago today, Tosh Ackerman of Aptos, CA passed away after taking what he thought was a legitimate prescription pill. Unfortunately, that pill was counterfeit and contained a deadly dose of fentanyl. Tosh is just one of the countless Americans killed by counterfeit medicines. Tosh’s absence is still deeply felt by his family and friends. By taking a moment to remember those we have already lost, the Partnership for Safe Medicines hopes to shine a light on the need to prevent any future deaths from counterfeit medicines.
[...]Med-Fast Settles Civil Case Over Selling Reused Medications To Nursing Homes
Instead of destroying unused medications, Med-Fast Pharmacy in Pennsylvania recycled and resold them to nursing homes. The company recently reached a settlement with the Department of Justice and agreed to a $2.6M fine…
[...]Company and CEO Charged With Illegally Adding Scheduled Drugs To Supplements
A recently unsealed indictment brings 18 charges, including introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce & manufacturing and distributing controlled substances, against Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals and its CEO Jared Wheat…
[...]2 Chinese Nationals Among 21 People Indicted in International Fentanyl Smuggling Rings
In an unprecedented action, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced federal grand jury indictments against two Chinese nationals living and working in China. It is alleged the pair operated separate businesses that manufacture illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogues and export them to the United States.
[...]Pharmacists Association Director Warns That Prescription Importation Undermines the Fight Against Opioids
Oklahoma Pharmacists Association Director Debra Billingsley published an editorial on October 21, 2017 opposing drug importation proposals:
Now is not the time to allow foreign unlicensed pharmacies to start dispensing drugs into Oklahoma. It would just make it easier for drug traffickers or crooked providers to hurt our citizens.
[...]Senate HELP Asks Do We Want to Bypass the FDA Gold-Standard of Drug Approvals with Importation?
Every panelist unequivocally stated their opposition to drug importation proposals, citing the danger to patients an unregulated drug supply chain would expose them to. Three, in particular, made cogent arguments on behalf of patient safety and drug accessibility.
[...]Hazmat Cleaning Company Describes Conditions Inside A House Used As A Fentanyl Pill Mill
An Edmonton home that was used as a pill mill for the largest fake fentanyl pill seizure in Canadian history was deemed uninhabitable until after a hazardous remediation company came in to clean the place up. This is what it was like inside…
[...]Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies Names the Winners of the 2017 Global Patient Safety Champions Award
This year Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP) has inaugurated a Global Patient Safety Champion award to recognize individuals and organizations that are working to protect patient safety and preserve the gold standard of FDA approval for all American patients.
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