Posts by psm2016
Arrests Made in Counterfeit Alli Case
Back in January, we told you about an FDA alert regarding counterfeit Alli—an FDA-approved, over-the-counter weight loss drug—which was being sold over the Internet. The FDA found that the counterfeit pills were made with varying amounts of the stimulant sibutramine, which can be particularly harmful to those with a history of cardiovascular disease and can…
[...]Europe Announces Treaty to Combat Counterfeit Drugs
Moving in line with the globally recognized need for strong protections against counterfeit drugs, the Council of Europe recently announced a treaty that intends to halt the trade of fake medications. At its Medicrime Convention, the Council of Europe created a binding international instrument to combat the sale of counterfeit drugs and other impediments to…
[...]Across the Pond: Counterfeit Medicines in the UK
Lately, we’ve posted a lot about counterfeit drug issues in the U.S., as well as our recommendations to government agencies on how to better protect Americans from this growing threat to public health. Other developed nations are addressing the same problems. In January, the United Kingdom’s (UK) Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) published…
[...]Shepherd M.* Beef up international cooperation on counterfeits. Nat Med. 2010;16(4):366.
Counterfeit drugs are a menacing and deadly problem worldwide. The proliferation of fake drugs is astounding, with over 100 countries reporting incidents of fake drugs, according to a 2008 report from the Pharmaceutical Security Institute. And incidents of drug counterfeiting show no evidence of declining: some industry insiders suggest that the number of counterfeit medicines…
[...]PSM Delivers Recommendations to IPEC Regarding the Joint Strategic Plan
Given the growing threat of counterfeit drugs around the world, the Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) goes to great lengths to inform and educate consumers, health care professionals and policymakers about this multifaceted issue. Most recently, we submitted recommendations to the office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) following its request for comments regarding…
[...]World Health Organization. Growing Threat from Counterfeit Medicines. Bull World Health Organ. 2010;88(4):247-8.
Lifesaving drugs are not exempt from the trade in counterfeit medicines. The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with Interpol to dislodge the criminal networks raking in billions of dollars from this cynical trade. Growing Threat from Counterfeit Medicines
[...]Yahoo Fails to Address Counterfeit Drugs in Remarks to FDA
At the end of February, the Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) answered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) call for comments on their docket concerning the Promotion of FDA-Regulated Medical Products Using the Internet and Social Media Tools. We submitted our recommendations on the tail of Google’s change to its online advertising policies, requiring…
[...]PSM Vice President Expecting Full House for Counterfeit Drug Conference
Each year, Partnership for Safe Medicines Vice President Dr. Bryan Liang hosts a health policy conference in San Diego. We’re happy to report that all seats have been filled for his March 26, 2010 conference, “Pharmaceutical Crime: Investigating and Prosecuting Drug Diversion and Counterfeiting,” sponsored by the Institute of Health Law Studies at the California…
[...]Nigeria Using SMS to Thwart Counterfeit Drugs
Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a text messaging service that can verify whether a drug is counterfeit or the real thing. The Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) allows anyone in Nigeria to check the authenticity of their medicines. How it works: A card attached to each medicine pack…
[...]Ghodse H. Watching Internet Pharmacies. Br J Psychiatry. 2010;196:169-170.
The number of illegal internet pharmacies selling prescription-only medicines without a prescription is increasing. Large quantities of drugs are dispensed, making drugs of abuse readily available, and further risks are posed by counterfeit medication. Urgent national and international action is required to stop further proliferation of illegal pharmacies. Watching Internet Pharmacies
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