Pharmaceutical News 2.0

New research released today (12 November) highlights the risk men are taking by purchasing counterfeit medicines. The ‘Cracking Counterfeit’ report commissioned by Pfizer reveals one in ten men interviewed - which would equate to more than 335,931 men living in major cities alone - admit to purchasing prescription only medicines without a prescription.1* ,2

Half (50%) of the men who have purchased medicine without a prescription have done so via the internet - a worrying statistic when you factor in that 90% of all medicines sold on the internet are thought to be fake.1** ,3

The reality is that counterfeit medicine can damage one’s health, and in some cases cause death. 4 Counterfeit medicine can contain high levels of toxic solvents5 for example, rat poison has been found in a counterfeit blood pressure lowering treatment, while boric acid and lead based road paint have both been found in a counterfeit medicine used to ease severe pain.5

The study also highlights the ignorance amongst men about which medicines actually require a prescription - only 40% of the men interviewed knew that erectile dysfunction medicine was in fact legally available only with a prescription.1**

The report also illustrates just how big the counterfeit medicine market is - with men potentially pouring more than £10 million into the counterfeit medicine market annually.1*, 2

The ‘Cracking Counterfeit’ report reveals:

– 68% of male respondents suspect ingredients found in counterfeit medicine to be very different from authentic medicines.1**

– 37% of men cited convenience and speed as the key reasons why they purchase medicine without prescription.1**

– The majority (60%) of the men who have bought medicine without prescription admit that if there was a possibility their medicine was counterfeit, it would have a great impact on their likelihood to purchase.1**

– Almost half (45%) of men purchasing without a prescription agreed that it was easy to get hold of.1**

Dr David Gillen, Pfizer’s Medical Director said: “Men bypassing the health system to purchase medicines is a growing problem in the UK, particularly relating to the increased availability of counterfeit medicines. These new findings show that men are not only often ignorant about what medicine actually requires a prescription but worryingly they know buying medicine from illicit sources might be harmful but convenience and anonymity often outweigh their fear levels.”

“Today, 12% of UK men like to gamble online.6 Almost the same proportion, 11%, may be literally gambling on life through purchasing potentially counterfeit medicine.1* The findings paint an interesting picture and help us to further educate the public around the risks of purchasing medicine through unregulated sources, ultimately reducing exposure to counterfeit medicine.”

Read more about the dangers men face when purchasing fake medicine.

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China has promised to pursue product pirates identified by U.S. authorities in a new effort to stamp out its thriving counterfeit industry, the head of the U.S. customs agency said Friday.

The agreement comes amid mounting concern that Chinese pirates are endangering public safety in the United States and elsewhere by selling fake medicine and other goods.

China accounted for about 80 percent of the 14,775 shipments of counterfeit goods seized at U.S. ports last year, said W. Ralph Basham, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Under a memorandum of cooperation signed this week, U.S. Customs will provide China with information on the source of seized goods, and Beijing will report back within 90 days on the status of efforts to track down the counterfeiters, Basham told reporters.

“We’ve got to start dealing with the source of the problem. We can’t expect to rely upon interdiction to be our tool in order to stop these products,” Basham said.

China has long been the world’s leading source of illegally copied goods ranging from designer clothes to movies and music. But concern about possible danger to the public has risen following the discovery of a toxic chemical in Chinese-made toothpaste.

Read the rest of this article on China’s efforts to fight fake medicine and other fake products.

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The European Union must put tougher measures in place to stamp out the growing problem of trading in counterfeit medicines, a report warns.

Professor David Taylor, of the University of London School of Pharmacy, said the problem had been concentrated in the developing world.

But the global nature of the drugs industry meant patients everywhere were now potentially at risk.

The UK regulator said a vigorous system of checks was already in place.

Some counterfeit medicines have been found to contain toxic substances, such as anti-freeze. Some have small amounts of the active substance, others none at all.

Professor Taylor, whose report is launched on Wednesday at the House of Commons, said increased rationing of drugs could play into the counterfeiters’ hands.

Internet problem

He said: “Compared to the harm done by medicines counterfeiting in Africa and Asia, Europe is relatively safe.

“But there are growing risks, which will get worse if - for example - people believe that they cannot get new medicines that may benefit them for conditions such as cancer, dementia or influenza from publicly funded services.”

World Health Organization statistics indicate 30% of medicines supplied in developing countries are fake.

In East European countries like Russia the proportion is 10%, while in wealthier areas like the UK it less than 1%.

Many of these have been purchased via the internet, but the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is currently investigating three cases of fake treatments being supplied via the legal NHS medicines supply chain.

Professor Taylor’s report calls for stronger legal penalties for medicine counterfeiting, and better controls over internet pharmacies, and entrepreneurs who trade in medicines.

He said the present system encouraged traders to buy medicines in countries where they are relatively cheap, and sell them on elsewhere at a profit.

While this was not illegal in itself, the fact that it was very difficult to monitor made it potentially attractive to counterfeiters.

Read the rest of this article on the growing problem of fake medicines.

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