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| Weekly Update | July 19, 2010 |
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FDA Warns Consumers Not To Use Stolen
Advair Inhalers
The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that a number of Advair
Diskus inhalers that were stolen in 2009 have been found in some pharmacies and
that consumers should not used the stolen products. The products
were reported stolen from a GlaxoSmithKline warehouse near Richmond, Virginia, in August 2009. These
recently discovered inhalers were the first that surfaced from the theft but
the FDA is still warning consumers that more of the stolen products may
appear in the marketplace. |
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Advair
Diskus, generically known as fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation
powder, is used to treat those who suffer from asthma and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease.
There are a
number of risks associated with the use of stolen pharmaceutical products. They
may have been stored at incorrect temperatures and humidity levels. Improper
storage conditions can degrade medications or cause them to lose potency. In
addition, stolen drugs may have been tampered with and may be contaminated.
There were
two lots stolen, totalling 25,600 Advair Diskus inhalers. The lot numbers of
the stolen produces are 9ZP2255 - NDC 0173-0696-00 and 9ZP3325 - NDC
0173-0697-00. Patients who have products with these lot numbers should
immediately stop using them, contact GlaxoSmithKline's CustomerResponseCenter at 888-825-5249, and
follow-up with their physician or pharmacist to obtain a proper replacement.
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Top News
Illinois Man Accused Of Selling Counterfeit Drugs
An Illinois man is currently facing charges
that he sold counterfeit drugs.
Wail T.
Salem of Orland Park, Illinois, is accused of selling thousands of
items that falsely bore the name of Pfizer Incorporated, a respected
pharmaceutical company, according to the Chicago Tribune. It is believed that Salem made more than $100,000 through his
alleged fraudulent activities. (Partnership for Safe Medicines, July
16, 2010; Link
here)
Identifying Counterfeit
Drugs Part of New Malaria Research
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases (NIAID) recently announced that it will create 10 malaria centers
around the world to study issues related to the disease, including new methods
for identifying counterfeit drugs used to treat the illness. (Partnership
for Safe Medicines, July 16, 2010; Link here)
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World News
UK: Counterfeit Weigh-Loss Drugs Run Rampant Authorities
in the UK have confiscated large numbers of
counterfeit weight-loss drugs originally headed for the consumer market. The
drugs break down into counterfeits of two prescription-only anti-obesity pills,
Xenical and Reductil, the latter of which was withdrawn from sale in Europe in January over worries it could
increase the risk of heart attacks in some patients. According to Mick Deats of
the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), "There is no
such thing as a good counterfeit medicine. These have been made in substandard
conditions, they contain impurities we don't even know about." Despite warnings
from the MHRA, online pharmacies and auction sites continue to sell these
illegal products. ("The Booming Market in Counterfeit Slimming Pills," BBC, July 7, 2010; Story here) Middle East: Counterfeit Drugs Cost Local Economies Billions According
to the Algerian Press Service, the counterfeit drug industry is costing Arab
countries US$3 billion annually resulting on a drain on those countries
economies. Due to the economic and public health problems caused by counterfeit
drugs, a new technique has been invented to fight against them. Secretary
General of the Arab Pharmacists Union, Ibrahim Al Achri, said each drug will
have a DNA fingerprint, a serial number and an identification number so that
they can be tracked and counterfeits will be easily identified. ("Arab
Countries Suffer US$3 Billion Loss Annually To Counterfeit Drugs," Bernama, July 19, 2010; Story here)
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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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