It’s hard to believe, but in fact it’s true: counterfeit medicine has been found to include boric acid, highway paint, antifreeze and lead. Click here to check out our infographic on the dangers of online pharmacies and a recent report by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
A British couple pleaded guilty to being the ringleaders in a black market prescription-only medicine business that imported veterinary medicine to Britain through illegal channels. Serving over 4,000 customers, the products were distributed to British farms, stables, kennels and vet surgeries. Concerns were raised over harmful residues in the food chain and unnecessary antibiotic resistance.
“Counterfeiters do not take the patient’s age, weight, or development into consideration when selling fake or sub-standard forms. Moreover, they are not interested in whether the child is taking other medications or if the combination of them will result in an adverse reaction.”
Interpol and “The Dangers of Counterfeit Medical Products” states, “In some cases, fake medicines have been found to contain highly toxic substances such as rat poison.
A Colorado Springs veterinarian tells the story of a friend whose dogs became ill after she gave them heartworm prevention medicine she ordered online.
By Dr. Marv Shepherd President, Partnership for Safe Medicines More than ever, American consumers are turning to the Internet to purchase goods at discounted rates. However, the online search for deals has taken a dangerous turn, as consumers look for cheap prescription medicines online at what appear to be legitimate pharmacies. Unfortunately, many people are…
A Trojan installed on victims computers, called Win32.Kelihos.b, is responsible for sending spam on behalf of a fake “Canadian pharmacy.” Computer researchers discovered that a group running a botnet used P2P to install this trojan on victims’ computers in order to lure them into purchasing rogue anti-spyware products, and then to send spam with subject…
Liberian researchers have found that more than 50% of antibiotic, antimalarial and pain relief medication are counterfeit or substandard. Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority officials collected 115 samples of common medications from public markets in Monrovia and tested them using the Global Pharma Health Fund’s Minilab. Some medications were found to have no…
The UK’s Guardian reports on the latest tactic from spammers and counterfeiters to find a way into your inbox, this time by trying to capitalize on the fanfare around the launch of Google+.
The Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) seized 25,000 packets of a widely prescribed antibiotic that treats bacterial infections. The fake medicine was found in the trunk of a car parked on the side of the road. According to JFDA Director Mohammad Rawashdeh, the fake Zithromax was “unfit for human consumption.” Read the story by…