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| Weekly Update | June 28, 2010 |
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Partnership for Safe
Medicines (PSM) Commends White House On Counterfeit Drug Provisions in U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement
Coordinator Plan
Washington, D.C.
(June 22, 2010)
- Scott LaGanga, executive director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines,
released the following statement regarding today's rollout of a joint strategic
plan by the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) that
includes provisions to address counterfeit prescription drugs: "The report released
today is both a step forward and a reminder of the need for public and private
sector leaders to work together to combat the worldwide counterfeit drug
epidemic. For all the valued access the Internet provides, it is also a place
where dangerous, criminal and life-threatening activity is permitted. For this
reason, the IPEC report couldn't be more timely. |
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"Regulation of counterfeit
drugs sold online must span numerous channels, including social media.
Platforms like Facebook must ensure vague advertising guidelines are replaced
with concrete policies that keep out untrustworthy drug retailers - a policy
that should be replicated by search engines where misleading advertisements
often infiltrate top-tier result pages. Micro blogging outlets like Twitter
should employ the 'verification' seal of approval used for celebrities and
public figures to serve as a stamp of credibility for outlets selling
medication.
"The Partnership for
Safe Medicines commends the efforts of the Administration to include online
pharmacies in IPEC's latest plan, as well as tactical approaches like the
establishment of a Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Interagency Committee and
increased enforcement activities on the part of government officials.
Collaboration with IPEC to coordinate and implement proposed policies is not
only wanted but needed. We look forward to stepping to the plate to do our part
to change this dangerous counterfeit culture."
About PSM:
Comprised of more than 60 non-profit
organizations, the Partnership for Safe Medicines is a public health group
committed to the safety of prescription drugs and protecting consumers against
counterfeit, substandard or otherwise unsafe medicines. |
Top News
United States: White House Aims to
Crack Down on Counterfeit Products
Last week Tuesday,
the federal government unveiled a wide-ranging strategic plan to protect
intellectual property and confront governments that fail to crack down on
piracy. "Piracy hurts, it hurts our economy, it hurts our health and
safety. We need to protect our citizens from unsafe products (such as)
counterfeit pharmaceuticals," said Vice President Joe Biden said in
releasing the 61-page plan drafted by several government agencies. "Counterfeit
drugs are a scourge and our consumers aren't safe. And they don't know what they're
buying online many times...It's time for [companies] to step up, it's time to
stop supporting ads for drugs sold illegally over the Internet -- and for a
simple reason: for the public health of American -- of our population,"
Biden stated. ("US Unveils Strategy to Fight Piracy of
Intellectual Property," Agence France
Press, June 23, 2010; Story
here)
Click here to see video of the Vice President's comments.
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World News
Canada: Regulators Warn of Counterfeit Tamiflu A drug
being advertised on the internet as "Generic Tamiflu" is a hoax as it
actually contains antibiotics instead. According to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, the pills which contain a white powder could pose a health risk
to anyone allergic to penicillin. The fake Tamiflu being sold on the internet does
not contain the proper active ingredient. Instead, it contains an antibiotic,
cloxacillin, which is in the same class of drugs as penicillin. ("Fake Tamiflu
poses health risk," CBC News, June
18, 2010; Story
here) United States: Few Overseas Testers Inspected by the FDA - HHS According
to a new report from the Health and Human Services (HHS), while most of the
drugs entering the U.S. market in 2008 were tested overseas,
the FDA only inspected 0.7 percent of foreign clinical trial sites. This report
raises concerns about the lack of US government oversight into thousands
of foreign clinical trials for drugs sold in the United States. ("Report Raises Concern over Foreign Drug Trials," CBS News, June 22,
2010; Story here)
WCO Secretary Vows to Fight
Counterfeit Drugs Kunio
Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization, signed a
declaration on Thursday, June 24th, demonstrating his group's commitment to
crack down on the counterfeit drug industry. "Countries across the globe,
in particular those in Africa, suffer the scourge of being flooded with fake and
sub-standard medicine," Mikuriya said during his address at the signing
ceremony. Malaria tablets, heart treatment medication and H1N1 vaccines are
among the drugs being sold in counterfeit form. ("WCO Signs Declaration, Vows
To Crack Down On Counterfeit Drug Industry," Global Health, June 25, 2010; Story
Here) |
Events
Anti-counterfeiting Americas (Boston, USA)When: Wednesday, Sep 8, 2010 Where: Boston, USA
PSM's Inaugural 2010
Interchange
When: Friday, Oct 8, 2010
Where: Washington, D.C.
Description: The Partnership for Safe
Medicines invites you to save the date for an intimate conference
bringing together patient groups, providers, pharmaceutical company quality
experts, enforcement personnel, policymakers, regulatory agency experts and
other interested parties to discuss key issues around counterfeit drugs andother unsafe medicines. Link
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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