Content about Counterfeit medications

At some point in their lives, most people learn the old lesson about things that look too good to be true, sometimes by hearing it from others, and other times from 
bad experiences.


Another prescription drug-related crime is drug counterfeiting, which got significant attention in March 2011 when CBS News’ “60 Minutes” reported on the problem, including a tour of a drug counterfeiting operation.


In March, the Senate passed S. 1886, the Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act, which toughens punishments for criminals who produce and traffic counterfeit medications, drawing praise from the National Association of Chain Drug Stores.


ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores on Friday applauded the Senate for passage of the Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act (S. 1886), which NACDS said would protect the health and safety of consumers by increasing penalties on criminals that engage in the harmful practice of trafficking in counterfeit medications.

The bill is sponsored by Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Michael Bennet, D-Colo.



ALEXANDRIA, Va. — New legislation proposed in the Senate would strengthen penalties against people who traffic in counterfeit medications.

Introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., S. 1886, the Counterfeit Drug Penalty Enhancement Act of 2011, would harshen laws against producing, buying or selling counterfeit drugs. The bill has received support from the chain retail pharmacy lobby.

NEW YORK — Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized $5.6 million worth of illegal pharmaceutical products, a 170% increase over 2005. Meanwhile, global sales of counterfeit medicines were estimated to be more than $75 billion last year, 90% more than in 2005.

In response, Pfizer and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy announced Thursday the launch of an effort to educate patients on how to safely buy medicines online and about the risks of counterfeit drugs.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned U.S. consumers not to use the emergency birth control medicine labeled as Evital, as it may be a counterfeit version of the “morning after pill” and may not be safe or effective in preventing pregnancy.
 
In addition, no brand labeled Evital has been approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

SEATTLE — A company that makes tracking technology for retailers and drug companies is making an initial public offering.

Seattle-based Impinj, which makes ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency identification tags, made the announcement Thursday, saying it had filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed IPO.

Impinj’s tags, which are cheaper and smaller than regular RFID tags, are used by retailers to track inventory and by drug companies to keep counterfeit drugs out of the supply chain.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — It's about time lawmakers start to understand the real threats posed by drug reimportation and unlicensed Internet pharmacy sites. About 20% of the current members of Congress are newly elected, and there is this recurring, cyclical fascination among politicians that we can fix everything with drug reimportation. But mandating electronic track and trace right now is a bad idea.

NEW YORK — "Fake drugs are a big threat and an exploding threat," Kumar Kibble, deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told the news program "60 Minutes" in a segment that appeared Sunday night.

WASHINGTON — Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.; Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, introduced new legislation that seeks to curb prescription drug theft through strengthened penalties and additional tools for law enforcement.

If approved, the legislation would:

• Increase possible sentences for robbing pharmacies of controlled substances;