Google vs. illegal online pharmacies

On its official blog, Google says that it has filed a civil lawsuit against advertisers it believes has deliberately broken its rules in regards to obtaining prescription medication.  Scores of online pharmacies have set up shop and offer to illegally sell prescription medication over the Internet. In recent years, we have noticed a marked increase [...]

WHO – Counterfeit drugs on the rise, pose global threat

As reported yesterday by Reuters (Counterfeit drugs on rise, pose global threat: WHO), World Health Officials warned that the production and sale of counterfeit drugs is on the rise in rich and poor countries, with more unwary consumers buying them over the Internet. The WHO experts added that fake or substandard versions of medicines are [...]

Internet drug sales to be included in new EU legislation aimed at preventing counterfeits

European parliamentarians voted yesterday in favor (51-0) of including Internet drug sales in European Union (EU) legislation aimed at preventing counterfeit medicines from entering the supply chain. Under the proposal, Internet pharmacies would have to obtain special authorizations in EU member states where they are allowed to operate. Their sites would be required to bear [...]

Billions spent on fake medicines in Europe – survey

Western Europeans spend an estimated 10.5 billion euros ($14.3 billion) a year on illicitly sourced medicines, many of them counterfeit, according to a recent survey.  Overall, 21 percent of 14,000 people surveyed in 14 states said they had bought medicines illicitly, with the rate ranging from 38 and 37 percent in Germany and Italy, respectively, [...]

2010 global counterfeit medicine sales predicted to reach $75 billion

The global sale of online counterfeit drugs is likely reach $75 billion in 2010, according to research by UK, Swedish and American academics. The research, which covers more than 50 studies published 1995-2009, provides an overview of the scale of counterfeit internet drugs and shows a 92% increase over the last five years. It also [...]

Health Canada warns people not to buy unauthorized products to fight H1N1 flu

Federal authorities are warning Canadians not to buy unauthorized products from the Internet or other sources that claim to fight the H1N1 virus.  The Competition Bureau and Health Canada issued a statement Wednesday saying that only three products are authorized for use against the virus: the vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline called Arepanrix, which is available at [...]

TIME: The Trade in Counterfeit Medicines

TIME Magazine recently published an interesting article on the trade in counterfeit medicines and an initiative fostered by former French President Jacques Chirac to combat this epidemic.  The proposed Cotonou declaration would be the first step of a worldwide campaign aimed at raising awareness of the problem and persuading governments to impose tougher penalties and [...]

Online pharmacies and patient safety

A recent article by the San Diego Union-Tribune raises concerns over online pharmacies.  According to the piece, a vast majority of online pharmacies may not be compliant with US Federal standards.   Carmen Catizone, executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), was quoted as saying, “We have found that 92 percent of [...]

GPs warn on internet drug sales

BBC News reported that  one in four general practitioners in Britain said they had treated patients for adverse reactions to medicines bought online.  A further 8% suspected they had treated side-effects of internet-bought drugs, the snapshot survey of 420 doctors carried out by GP magazine found. Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP in west London and [...]

Patient safety before profits

I totally agree with the article by kmlybecker below.  The seizure of illegal counterfeit pharmaceuticals by U.S. Customs increased 660% from 2006 to 2007.  According to these same authorities, 80% of the counterfeit drugs originates in China with the rest mostly coming from Pakistan, Egypt, Hong Kong and Taiwan.  Half of all internet drug sales [...]