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| Weekly Update | April 26, 2010 |
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Arrests Made in
Counterfeit Alli Case
Back in January, we told
you about an FDA
alert regarding counterfeit Alli-an FDA-approved, over-the-counter weight
loss drug-which was being sold over the Internet. The FDA found that the
counterfeit pills were made with varying amounts of the stimulant sibutramine,
which can be particularly harmful to those with a history of cardiovascular
disease and can lead to elevated blood pressure, stroke or heart attack. Thankfully,
an investigation of the counterfeit Alli led to the arrest of two people, who
were charged with illegally importing the fake medicines from China.
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The Wall Street Journal reported last month that at least
one person had fallen victim to the scheme and had an adverse reaction,
including headaches, chills and heart-attack-like symptoms. The Wall Street
Journal also noted that the man "had been taking an authentic, government-approved
version of Alli when he found a website where he found purported cheaper
versions of the medicine online."
We know many people are
feeling the financial stress of paying for medicines, especially in a down
economy. Yet, as we so often say here at the Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM),
patients must be vigilant and watch for those that look to threaten their
health and safety or that of their family.
Take a look at our Safe Savings guide to
learn more about how to safely save on medications, including information about
prescription assistance programs and
tips for safe online shopping.
As we work toward
mitigating the threat counterfeit drugs through new technologies and
collaboration between private industry, the public sector and international
agencies, we encourage patients and health care providers to remain vigilant to
these public health dangers.
As
for those arrested in connection with the counterfeit Alli case, both
individuals stand to face up to a $250,000
fine and several years in prison. |
Top News
US: Consumers
Warned about Buying Drugs While Traveling or Online
International
travelers are encouraged to be cautious and, if possible, avoid purchasing drugs
when traveling abroad. The World Health Organization estimates that 10 percent
of all pharmaceuticals on the global market are counterfeit. In parts of Africa,
Asia and Latin America, more than 30 percent
of the medicines on sale by retailers are counterfeit. In some regions, the
numbers can be as high as 70 percent. In the United
States and many countries in Europe,
the incidence of counterfeit medicines is less than 1 percent. However, medicines
purchased over the Internet are counterfeit in a much larger percentage of
cases. ("The Dangers of Buying Medicines Overseas," New York Times Blog,
April 19; 2010; Story
here)
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World News
Malta: Official Charged with Importing
Counterfeit Drugs Former
Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU) vice president and agent behind
the Pharmacy of Your Choice Scheme, Mario Debono, is accused of importing counterfeit
drugs into Malta
in 2006. Debono's company Surgiquip was charged last week with the importation
of 400 packets of the heart drug Plavix in 2006. Debono was charged with
breaches of Intellectual Property Rights as well as breaches of the Medicines
Act. ("Debono in the Dock: Former GRTU Vice President Behind the Pharmacy of
Your Choice Scheme." Malta
Today, April 14, 2010; Story here) Canada: Olympian Arrested for Transporting
Counterfeit Drugs The skip of
Canada's gold-medal curling
team at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics, Jim Armstrong, has been arrested and
charged in the United States
with trafficking in counterfeit lifestyle drugs. The arrest came after Federal
Food and Drug Agency and Postal Inspection officials alleged they watched him
pick up a box of nearly 3,000 pills mailed from a manufacturer in China. He was
charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods and released after waiving his
extradition rights and posting a $20,000 bond. A conviction could mean up to 10
years in jail and a fine of up to $2 million. ("Gold-medal Paralympic Curler Charged
with Trafficking in Fake [Lifestyle Drugs]", Vancouver Sun, April 22,
2010; Story
here) Counterfeit
Malaria Drugs a Major Public Health Concern The World
Health Organization believes counterfeit drugs constitute between 25 and 50 per
cent of the medicine supply in underdeveloped countries. One type of counterfeit
that is of particular concern is anti-malarial drugs. Malaria infects about 500
million people per year making the market for anti-malarials large and
lucrative. The human cost of these counterfeits can be difficult to measure but
a significant proportion of the one million annual deaths from malaria may be
attributable to counterfeit drugs. This is due to fakes that are ineffective,
toxic, and contribute to the development of resistance, rendering genuine
anti-malarial medicines useless. ("Fake Medicines: Illegal, Immoral and Liable
to Increase Drug Resistance," Financial Times, April 22, 2010; Story
here) |
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About the Partnership for Safe Medicines
The Partnership for Safe Medicines is a group of organizations and individuals that have policies, procedures, or programs to protect consumers from counterfeit or contraband medicines. For more information, please visit SafeMedicines.org.
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