World News
Fake medicines in Mexico, November 2025 – May 2026
Americans buying prescription medicines in Mexico are overlooking widespread drug counterfeiting in the country, and as AFPs popularize medical tourism to lower costs, what happens in Mexico’s drug supply chain is even more of a problem for Americans.
[...]WHO Alert: Counterfeit Cancer Medicines Reported in Europe
Information provided to WHO by AstraZeneca, the genuine manufacturer of IMFINZI, has confirmed that the products identified in this Alert are falsified. Laboratory analysis of samples of the falsified IMFINZI have been carried out by AstraZeneca. The analysis confirmed that the vials of the falsified product contained no active pharmaceutical ingredient.
[...]PSM launches social media public awareness campaign about dangers of fake Botox
PSM is launching a public awareness campaign about the dangers of fake Botox. The campaign includes a dozen slides with quotes from a fake Botox victim about her physical effects. You can view the campaign elements in the gallery below or on PSM’s instagram channel as it rolls out over the next few weeks.
[...]September 18, 2023: USFDA concerned that eight companies, including two pharmacies, are illegally marketing unapproved ophthalmic drug products
USFDA is concerned that eight companies, including two pharmacies, are illegally marketing unapproved ophthalmic drug products that pose a heightened risk to users. Counterfeit pills make the DHS’ threat assessment list for 2024.
[...]Counterfeit Surgical Masks Seized During Operation Pangea, Fake COVID-19 Test Kits Seized by CBP
Operation Pangea found more than 34,000 bogus surgical masks among the 4.4 million illicit pharmaceuticals and 37,000 counterfeit medical devices seized during their seven-day global effort to target counterfeit drug crime. In Los Angeles, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized counterfeit coronavirus test kits. #covidscams are on the rise.
[...]Counterfeit Medicines Are a Problem in the European Union—A Problem that is Continuing to Grow
According to a report from Europol’s Intellectual Property Crime Threat Assessment 2019, “Counterfeit pharmaceuticals pose a growing threat to the EU, affecting a large number of Member States. A wide and increasingly diverse range of medicines is targeted by counterfeiters.”
The Europol ICP Threat Assessment reports that there has been an increase in seizures of counterfeit drugs used in the treatment of serious illnesses, as well as a growing number of counterfeit drug incidents affecting the legal drug supply chain.
New Report Highlights Continued Illicit Online Prescription Drugs Sales In China
ASOP Global and LegitScript released a report analyzing the prevalence of illicit online sales of prescription drugs in China, a country where such sales are prohibited. Their analysis showed that about half of all Chinese online pharmaceuticals sellers are illicit, potentially exposing patients to counterfeit medicines, substandard medicines, financial fraud, and identity theft…
[...]UK House of Commons: No Deal Brexit Exposes U.K. to Both Counterfeit Medication and Medication Shortages
In a report published by the House of Commons, experts in the field of prescription medication described a dire situation for medicine safety in the United Kingdom (UK) if a “no-deal” departure from the European Union (EU) happens. The report noted, “Witnesses told us that, without provisions with the EU to continue to exchange data, the UK would be shut out of critical EU data exchanges on pharmacovigilance, falsified medicines and clinical trials.”
[...]Canadians Concerned About US Prescription Drug Importation Proposals
John Adams of the Best Medicines Coalition, a Canadian group that represents 28 different patient organizations, has described the Trump administration’s plan to import medication from Canada as a “clear and present danger” to the Canadian prescription drug system, according to AP.
[...]Prime Minister Trudeau Promises to Protect the Canadian Drug Supply In The Face Of The U.S. Drug Importation Statement
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was interviewed today in Iqaluit, and according to CBC Canada, he reassured Canadians that Health Canada is already safeguarding the Canadian prescription drug supply regardless of international pressure.
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