News Room
COUNTERFEIT MEDICINES
While the issue of counterfeit medicines is not new, there seems to be a growing prevalence of incidents reported by the media. The following articles highlight some of the reported cases, and dangers, of counterfeit medicines.
EU to review drugs rules amid concern about fakes
(Financial Times - May 22, 2007) The EU industry commissioner has launched studies to assess whether efforts to cut red tape and restrict the introduction of fresh regulations were outweighed by a need to prevent counterfeit medicines and medical devices. His decision came as Jean-François Dehecq, the chairman of Sanofi-Aventis, the French pharmaceuticals group, and vice-chairman of the European industry association, called for a ban on the repackaging of medicines and tighter controls on so-called parallel trade in efforts to exclude fakes from the market.
Financial Times - EU to review drug rules.doc 29.00 kB
Lab testing confirms counterfeit drug in Malta
(Malta Star - May 19, 2007) A police probe in Malta is part of a European-wide investigation into counterfeit drugs. One of the eight samples of Plavix seized by police was confirmed to be counterfeited. The same drug was also distributed in larger quantities in other European countries across Europe – France, United Kingdom and Switzerland. The counterfeit packets are probably originating from the same sources – a large medicine distributor in the UK.
Malta Star - counterfeit drugs.pdf 32.91 kB
Bitter pills: the fast-growing, deadly industry in fake drugs
(Financial Times - May 14, 2007) With fakes - often indistinguishable from genuine medicines - accounting for about10 per cent of the developing world's drugs, unwitting patients are each year being killed by neglect at best and poison at worst. The growing commercial stakes are encouraging a fresh willingness to tackle the problem globally - and to develop new tools that may help.
Financial Times - Bitter Pills.pdf 19.10 kB
Poisoned medicine leaving deadly trail
(Science Daily - May 6, 2007) Investigators have found that a deadly trail of poisonous medicine that recently reached Panama has roots in a syrupy chemical created inside China's borders. Global counterfeiters have used sweet-tasting diethylene glycol as an inexpensive substitute in medicines during the past few years.
Science Daily - poisoned medicine leaving deadly trail.pdf 11.59 kB
Police close to "solve" Malta-link on counterfeit drugs
(Malta Star - April 14, 2007) The Malta Police fraud squad is taking part in a European-wide investigation into counterfeit medicine of which around 400 packets have been found in Malta. Malta is generally used as a hub because of the central location of the Malta Freeport, said sources in the medicine industry.
Malta Star - counterfeit drugs April 14.pdf 62.17 kB
Pharmacist, patient groups call for inquest into B.C. counterfeit-pills death
(Canadian Pharmacist Association - March 22, 2007) A coalition of Canadian pharmacists and patients today called on the Regional Coroner for Vancouver Island to hold an inquest into the death of a British Columbia woman who died apparently after taking counterfeit pills she ordered online from a purported Canadian internet pharmacy.
CPA - BC Counterfeit Pill Deaths.pdf 47.57 kB
Pharmacist, patient groups call for inquest into B.C. counterfeitpills
(OPA Today - March 22, 2007) A coalition of Canadian pharmacists and patients called on the Regional Coroner for Vancouver Island to hold an inquest into the death of a British Columbia woman who died apparently after taking counterfeit pills she ordered online from a purported Canadian internet pharmacy.
OPA Today - counterfeit pills death.pdf 47.57 kB
Pills bought online likely killed B.C. woman
(The Globe and Mail - March 20, 2007) Pills bought on the Internet appear to have killed a 57-year-old woman on Vancouver Island. The woman bought a sedative not legally sold in Canada and which has been linked to overdose deaths in other countries. The coroners service is warning people about the dangers of buying medications online from an unknown company.
Globe and Mail - Pills bought online likely killed woman.pdf 11.05 kB
