mPedigree awarded $200,000 in Global Security Challenge

mPedigree was recently announced as the Best Security Start-up in 2010 by the Global Security Challenge.  mPedigree from Ghana is the first system in the world which enables consumers and patients to verify the authenticity of their medicines by sending a free text message of the unique, product-embossed codes. Across the developing world, especially in [...]

Vaccine link to autism based on falsified data

The controversial study linking the measles mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism was based on falsified data and “manufactured at a London medical school,” according to a report in the British Medical Journal.  The investigative report includes a number of findings which suggest that the team at the Royal Free medical school, led by [...]

US Bill proposes to strengthen drug safety laws

Leaders of four committees in the US House of Representatives have introduced a bill — Drug Safety Enhancement Act (Bill HR 6543) — which would upgrade America’s prescription drug safety laws.  This Bill proposes to equip the FDA with the authorities and resources it needs to adequately regulate the growing global marketplace for drugs. HR [...]

Google and Microsoft help fight illegal internet pharmacies

Bloomberg reports that Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are helping to establish a nonprofit organization targeting illegal Internet pharmacies in support of Obama administration efforts.  The group is comprised of companies that serve as Internet choke points and was in response to a call from the administration for private efforts to police illegal pharmacies, said [...]

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 begins 63rd World Health Assembly – focus on disease prevention, MDGs and patient safety

Sixty-third World Health Assembly Date: 17–21 May 2010 Location: Geneva, Switzerland The 63rd session of the World Health Assembly began today in Geneva and will continue through to the 21 st of May. At this session, the Health Assembly will discuss a number of technical and public health issues, including: Monitoring of the achievement of [...]

Patient safety and counterfeit medicines

Discussions around counterfeit medicines – and the definition thereof — are heating up again prior to the start of the World Health Assembly.  While this has become a contentious issue, all sides can agree that counterfeit medicines pose a global public health risk, leading to resistance to treatment, illness, disability and even death. A series [...]

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 [...]

The economic impact of IP infringement: a report from the U.S. GAO

The United States Government Accountability Office recently released a report on efforts to quantify the effects of counterfeit goods (Intellectual property:  observations on efforts to quantify the effects of counterfeit and pirated goods). Intellectual property is an important component of the U.S. economy, however the report noted that the illicit nature of counterfeiting and piracy [...]

Counterfeits threaten public health in Peru

The prevalence of counterfeit medicines in Peru has increased annually (since 2005) by an average of 45% – representing a significant threat to patient safety and public health.  Nearly a quarter of the counterfeit medicines found by Peru’s National Quality Control Center did not contain any active ingredient, providing no health benefit or protection to [...]