News
FDA Warns 19 Medical Practices: Foreign Medical Distributor Gave Out Fakes, Including Fake Cancer Drugs
The FDA has issued letters to 19 US medical practices that purchased medication from a foreign supplier, Quality Specialty Products (QSP), warning that drugs distributed by QSP are known to be unapproved by the FDA, and in at least one instance verified counterfeit.
QSP, also known as Montana Health Care Solutions, has been identified by the FDA as the distributor of counterfeit Avastin. Roche AG, the manufacturer, has said that the counterfeit Avastin was tested and found to contain no active ingredient. Avastin is FDA approved for use in metastatic colorectal cancer, advanced nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer, metastatic kidney cancer, and glioblastoma.
[...]Counterfeit Cancer Medication Found in U.S.
A counterfeit version of Avastin cancer therapy has been found in the U.S. announced manufacturer Roche Holding AG, a Swiss company.
Vials of the medication were tested by Roche and found to not contain the active ingredients, according to Roche’s Genentech unit, reported The Wall Street Journal.
Alert: Unapproved Drug Found in RegenArouse, Recalled by Maker
This is a reprint of the FDA alert. Regeneca, Inc. announced today that it is conducting a voluntary nationwide recall of RegenArouse, Lot Number 130100, because FDA lab analysis has confirmed the presence of Tadalafil making these products unapproved new drugs. Tadalafil is an FDA-approved drug used as treatment for male Erectile Dysfunction (ED). The…
[...]British Men Sentenced for Illegal Online Sale of Pharmaceuticals
Clemsford Crown Court sentenced two men who pleaded guilty to advertising and selling prescription only medicines on websites. The two Essex residents, Steven Corbersmith, 35, from Frinton-on-Sea, and Stefa Hazell, 28, from Kirby-le-Soken. ran two websites that illegally sold prescription only medications clomiphene citrate, used for fertility enhancement, and anabolic steroids, reported the UK’s Medicines…
[...]AstraZeneca Backs Counterfeit Drug Penalty Legislation in US Congress
On January 19, 2012, AstraZeneca sent members of Congress a letter supporting legislation to increase penalties for counterfeit prescription drug crime.
The letters were sent to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA), and Representative Patrick Meehan (R-PA), bill sponsors along with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT.).
[...]Fake Antimalarial Drugs Endangering Millions, Killing Children and Pregnant Women
The most potent anti-malarial drug has been found in counterfeit version in 11 African countries. On top of not curing patients sick with deadly malaria, lower than therapeutic doses of the active ingredient artemisinin in the fake meds can cause the parasites to develop resistance to the medication. In essence, the counterfeit drugs are likely to cause a mutation in the parasite, creating a newer, deadlier version of malaria not able to be cured by any known medication.
[...]Peddling Poison: The Counterfeit Drug Problem in America
The Partnership for Safe Medicines released a video about the recent conviction of counterfeit drug seller Manuel Calvelo on youtube. The video, available here, is narrated by counterfeit medicine victim Rick Roberts, a patient advocate who has spoken about his experience receiving vital life-saving medicines that turned out to be fakes in front of Congress and at the Interchange.
Roberts explains the case of Manuel Calvelo, a Belgian citizen who ran numerous online fake pharmacies that sold so-called generic versions of non-generic drugs that claimed to treat serious health concerns, such as a heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Instead the medicines were tested and found to be fakes by FDA agents.
[...]PSM India Commemorates The Consumer Protection Act of 1986
On the occasion of the silver jubilee of its enactment, the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 was commemorated in Kochi at a function organized on the 24th of December by the Partnership for Safe Medicines – India. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. K.V. Thomas, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution,…
[...]Counterfeit Medicine Captured by Police in Virginia Stores
Fairfax County Virginia police seized thousands of doses of prescription medication from stores throughout the county in early December 2011. Stores primarily catering to the Latino population were found in possession of illegal painkillers, birth control pills, antibiotics and other medications allegedly counterfeit according to police authorities, reported the Fairfax Times. Medications were sold by…
[...]Medicine Delivery Truck Hijacked, Meds Stolen and Meds Recovered
A medicine delivery vehicle was hijacked in the Detroit, Michigan area on December 13, by two armed hijackers. FreightWatch International reported that the van contained a tracking device and the police were notified immediately of the hijacking. When police arrived, the criminals gave up both the driver and van unharmed. In addition police recovered over…
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