News
FDA, FTC act to remove fraudulent STD products from the market
This is a reprint of the FDA alert. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today announced a joint effort to remove products from the market that make unproven claims to treat, cure, and prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Among the products targeted in today’s action are Medavir, Herpaflor,…
[...]Supplement Maker Sentenced for Using Unapproved Drugs
An Idaho federal court sentenced a Vista, California nutritional supplement maker, Tribravus Enterprises, for the unlawful manufacture and distribution of unapproved synthetic steroids in over-the-counter pills marketed as “dietary supplements.”
[...]Fake Antibiotics Discovered in Hanoi
Vietnamese officials have discovered counterfeit antibiotics and are alerting consumers and pharmacists.
[...]Texas Attorney General Sues Fake Antibiotic Distributor
The Texas Attorney General’s Office is suing two American companies for distributing products falsely advertised as antibiotics that were marketed primarily to Spanish speakers in the U.S.
After an Austin hospital alerted authorities that pediatric patients had been given fake antibiotics, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued a warning and opened an investigation.
[...]Small Step Forward for Doctors Fighting Disease and Fake Drugs
A German NGO, “Doctors for Developing Countries,” is finding its work in Africa hampered by overwhelming volumes of fake drugs in the supply chain. It is using a new tool that provides identifies some types of fakes, but not all of them.
[...]Texas Children Given Fake Antibiotics
Texas officials are investigating several over-the-counterfeit medications falsely advertised as antibiotics and warning people to avoid these fakes.
Doctors in an Austin hospital reported that several children were given these products by their parents, prompting the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to issue a warning and open an investigation.
[...]Rogue Pharmacies Using Facebook To Hook Victims
Rogue pharmacies are now advertising by using Facebook’s social networking interface.
A brief search on Facebook for term “Viagra” popped up 90 pages.One page, entitled “viagra” [sic] is a Product/Service page and has almost 7,000 fans.
[...]Thousands of Fake Pills Found in Northampton, UK
Police raided a Northamptom, UK house in April 9 and uncovered more than 8,000 tablets fake pills suspected by police of having been imported from outside the country. Northampton prosecutors have charged Victor Cheke, 41, with importing a prescription drug for sale without authority, reports The Northampton Chronicle & Echo. At the arraignment, the court…
[...]Increased Vigilance Secures Medical Supply Chain
Pharmaceutical cargo theft rates have stayed flat since 2008, after a 283 percent increase between 2006 and 2008. Ed Silverman of Pharmalot reports that “attempts to curtail hijacked trucks and warehouse burglaries may be making a different in the rate of pharmaceutical thefts” due to increased vigilance by drug makers. Most pharmaceutical cargo thefts are…
[...]FDA Collects Samples for Lifesaving Database
The International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council is cooperating with FDA officials to provide excipient samples for counterfeit and contamination testing in a database collected by the Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis (DPA) within the US FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). Initial screenings will be done using four technologies to quickly identify materials…
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