Content about Counterfeit medications

May 6, 2013

Pfizer is attempting to stem the rise of counterfeit medicines by selling one of its most popular drugs — and one of the most popular targets for counterfeiters — online.

NEW YORK — Pfizer is attempting to stem the rise of counterfeit medicines by selling one of its most popular drugs — and one of the most popular targets for counterfeiters — online.

The drug maker announced that it had launched Viagra (sildenafil citrate) home delivery, a prescription-fulfillment website for the drug, which is powered by CVS/pharmacy and accessible through Viagra.com.

January 16, 2013

The Food and Drug Administration has set user fee rates for generic drug companies, the agency said.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has set user fee rates for generic drug companies, the agency said Wednesday.

The FDA announced that it had published a notice in the Federal Register for companies that make finished dosage forms, meaning drugs in their final form, and active pharmaceutical ingredients, meaning the main ingredients of the drugs.

November 15, 2012

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.


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.


September 28, 2012

Keynote speeches by pharmaceutical industry and regulatory leaders got top billing as more than 140 government, healthcare industry, law enforcement and patient advocacy officials gathered to find ways to combat the spread of counterfeit medicines.

WASHINGTON — Keynote speeches by pharmaceutical industry and regulatory leaders got top billing as more than 140 government, healthcare industry, law enforcement and patient advocacy officials gathered to find ways to combat the spread of counterfeit medicines.

July 16, 2012

Prescription drug counterfeiting got significant attention in March 2011 when CBS News’ “60 Minutes” reported on the problem, including a tour of a drug counterfeiting operation.


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.


May 21, 2012

Federal and industry officials have been negotiating a federal track-and-trace system as part of a reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Federal and industry officials have been negotiating a federal track-and-trace system as part of a reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, according to published reports.

March 9, 2012

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.

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.



December 16, 2011

A new bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate seeks to protect consumers from Internet drug sellers posing as legitimate pharmacies.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A new bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate seeks to protect consumers from Internet drug sellers posing as legitimate pharmacies.

December 8, 2011

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

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.

October 20, 2011

The Senate voted 55-45 Thursday to scrap an appropriations bill amendment that would have allowed personal importation of prescription drugs.

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted 55-45 Thursday to scrap an appropriations bill amendment that would have allowed personal importation of prescription drugs.

The amendment had been proposed for the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The Senate's vote drew applause from an organization representing retail pharmacy chains.

September 29, 2011

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.

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.

August 24, 2011


A worldwide flood of counterfeit and unsafe medications is seeping into the United States and other developed countries via the Internet and porous borders, threatening public health and the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain.


A worldwide flood of counterfeit and unsafe medications is seeping into the United States and other developed countries via the Internet and porous borders, threatening public health and the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain. In response, federal drug safety overseers and such drug manufacturers as Pfizer are working to shore up the integrity of drug supplies and stop production of fake and adulterated pharmaceuticals at their source.


August 2, 2011

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.

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.

August 1, 2011

In a report issued last week, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy found that 96% of rogue websites analyzed continue to operate out of compliance with U.S. pharmacy laws, fuel prescription drug abuse and misuse, and provide an outlet for counterfeit medicines to enter the U.S. drug supply.

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — In a report issued last week, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy found that 96% of rogue websites analyzed continue to operate out of compliance with U.S. pharmacy laws, fuel prescription drug abuse and misuse, and provide an outlet for counterfeit medicines to enter the U.S. drug supply.

Among 8,000 websites analyzed in "Internet Drug Outlet Identification Program Progress Report for State and Federal Regulators: July 2011," NABP discovered that:

April 22, 2011

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

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.

March 24, 2011

Sugar and chalk. That’s what Pfizer researchers found in a pill that was supposed to be Cytotec, but was, in fact, a crude knockoff seized from a counterfeit drug lab in Peru.

Sugar and chalk. That’s what Pfizer researchers found in a pill that was supposed to be Cytotec, but was, in fact, a crude knockoff seized from a counterfeit drug lab in Peru.

March 18, 2011

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.

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.

March 17, 2011

Commenting on a counterfeit pharmaceutical inter-agency working group report, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores stressed that it shares the goal of improving the public awareness of the risks posed from counterfeit drugs and unlawful online drug sellers, but expressed concern over the report's proposal to mandate a "track-and-trace" system in the United States, given the high cost it could pose for pharmacies.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Commenting on a counterfeit pharmaceutical inter-agency working group report, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores stressed that it shares the goal of improving the public awareness of the risks posed from counterfeit drugs and unlawful online drug sellers, but expressed concern over the report's proposal to mandate a "track-and-trace" system in the United States, given the high cost it could pose for pharmacies.

March 14, 2011

"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.

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.

March 14, 2011

Sugar and chalk. That’s what Pfizer researchers found in a pill that was supposed to be Cytotec but was, in fact, a crude knock-off seized from a counterfeit drug lab in Peru. The "60 Minutes" segment came as no surprise to Drug Store News, which has argued for many years that drug counterfeiting is the key reason lawmakers need to forget the recurring pipe dream they share that rogue Internet sites and drug reimportation is a legitimate solution to rising healthcare costs.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Sugar and chalk. That’s what Pfizer researchers found in a pill that was supposed to be Cytotec but was, in fact, a crude knock-off seized from a counterfeit drug lab in Peru.

(THE NEWS: '60 Minutes' examines drug counterfeit problem. For the full story, click here)

March 9, 2011

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.

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;

November 1, 2010

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is urging federal health officials to adopt a...

ALEXANDRIA, Va. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores is urging federal health officials to adopt a simpler means of communicating drug safety and efficacy information to patients, and to clear the way for an approval pathway for generic versions of biologically engineered drugs.

 

NACDS made its priorities known in a letter Monday to Margaret Hamburg, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. The letter came from Kevin Nicholson, the group’s VP government affairs and public policy.

 

September 13, 2010

The lobby for the generic drug industry is joining the fight against counterfeit drugs....

August 29, 2010

Pharmacists' role has significantly changed, with more than 90% of pharmacists believing they are key...

February 9, 2010

A Mylan distribution center has received Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors accreditation from the National Association of...