La Pharma Fake Or Real

[Everardo Frost]

Didyou know making counterfeit Viagra is up to 2,000 times more profitable than dealing hard drugs? In fact, a $1,000 investment in counterfeit prescription drugs can result in a $30,000 return, which is 10 times the profit rate of trafficking heroin. Pharmaceuticals are in high demand, and the punishment for fake pharmaceutical dealing is lower than for narcotics. It is no wonder the market for counterfeit pharmaceuticals continues to grow larger than many realize.

The drug industry is a target for counterfeiting because pharmaceuticals have high value and high utilization, and because the complex development process means large amounts of chemicals cross borders. Many of those countries do not have the same regulatory requirements as the United States. The World Health Organization estimates that about 30 percent of countries worldwide do not have a functional drug regulation agency equivalent to the FDA.

Anomalies in cross-border drug pricing have created a market opportunity for fake pharmaceutical traffickers. For example, a drug may sell for $20 per vial in Brazil but $10 a vial in Argentina. Third-party traders will interrupt the supply chain, diverting the drugs from to Brazil to make an extra $10. This results in lost revenue for the pharmaceutical industry and means patients in Argentina need to find alternative means of getting their drugs, explained Gary Parish, President of Complete Inspection Systems Inc.

The first layer of protection pharmaceutical packaging professionals can implement is an overt anti-counterfeiting solution, which is easily visible. Examples of overt solutions include holograms, serial codes and barcodes. The problem with holograms is that counterfeiters easily duplicate them, but serial codes and barcodes offer more security. For instance, Complete Inspection Systems produces unique barcodes for pharmaceutical packages that can hold up to 50 percent more data than standard barcodes.

Other printing and marking technologies are being utilized to hinder counterfeit drug trafficking. For example, the CD-3 is a handheld device invented by the FDA that emits ultraviolet and infrared light onto pills and their packaging to determine if they are genuine. The device is intuitive to use, relatively inexpensive at $1,000 per device and surprisingly effective.

With estimates of counterfeit drugs representing between eight and 15 percent of all medicines sold worldwide, pharmaceutical manufacturers need to stay ahead of counterfeiters by constantly updating their security methods. Attendees at Healthcare Packaging EXPO will have the chance to explore state-of- the-art packaging technologies, equipment and materials up close and in person. Between PACK EXPO Las Vegas and the Healthcare Packaging EXPO, more than 2,000 exhibitors will offer solutions to improve security, protection and product integrity. To register, visit here.

By that comparison, the chances of your medication being fake are small, but there's still a risk. You can make the best-informed decisions about your health, by knowing what fake medicines are, how to identify fake medicines, and how to choose a reliable pharmacy.

In a side-by-side comparison, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a counterfeit and real medication. In fact, according to Amy Callanan, a Global Intelligence Lead, Pfizer Global Security, there's only one way to be sure.

"Reputable pharmaceutical companies make a really high-quality product that's going to stand up to travel and storage," Callanan says. "As long as it hasn't undergone some horrible torture like being left on the car dashboard for three weeks in the middle of July, it should look the same at least until its expiration date."

"The incidence of counterfeit medication here in the United States is really rare," Callanan adds. "In most developed countries, purchasing from brick-and-mortar pharmacies is generally safe. Any stories you hear about counterfeit medications become interesting and newsworthy because they are not the norm."

But what if you want to buy medication online? How can you be sure you're getting the real deal and not a knockoff? To ease your mind, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) created the Buy Safely site. By typing in a website address, you'll know immediately whether the site is a reliable pharmacy. Your doctor can also point you to safe, state-licensed online pharmacies.3

Additionally, look for the ".pharmacy" domain. NABP operates the .Pharmacy Verified Websites Program, which assigns this differentiating domain to online pharmacies that comply with all licensing laws and regulations. If you see this domain, you can be confident you're dealing with a reliable pharmacy website.

Reach out to the pharmaceutical manufacturer, as well. They have records of each drug batch they produce. If yours doesn't fall in line with their records, they will know. Company representatives can also tell you how to properly dispose of counterfeits. You can search the Buy Safely site for official drug disposal locations, too.

"It's possible the company may be able to identify your meds as counterfeit over the phone. It may be a known counterfeit lot number," Callanan says. "Pharmaceutical companies keep track of complaints and accumulate data on counterfeits. Sometimes the counterfeit product will have a lot number that is not a real lot number and if you call in with a product that has a certain lot number, they might be able tell you if your meds are counterfeit."

There is one more step you should take. The FDA keeps track of fake medicines that find their way into the U.S. drug pipeline. The agency relies on patients, providers, and pharmacies to voluntarily share information about counterfeit or suspected counterfeit medication. To report fake pharmaceuticals, visit the MedWatch site.

Ultimately, as long as you buy your prescriptions from a brick-and-mortar or reliable online pharmacy, you can be confident your medication is authentic. Still, knowing how to identify fake medicines can keep you and your loved ones safe in the long run.

Counterfeit pills are fake pills made to look like real prescription medications that you get from a pharmacy. While they may look like real medications in terms of their size, coloring, stamps and packaging, they have different ingredients. They may contain more or less of the active ingredient, harmful ingredients, or the wrong medication altogether.

In addition, the high cost of prescription medications, the rise of online pharmacies, the ease of online sales through social media and delivery of products through the mail are contributing factors. And, there is a sense that the risks of getting caught are low.

Ensure your loved one that if they share concerns about a friend or themselves, that you will treat it as a health and safety problem and not resort to punishment. Depending upon the situation, professional help may be needed including counseling and medications.

If your child or loved one is using counterfeit pills or other substances laced with fentanyl, consider suggesting measures that can reduce the risks if treatment is not immediately available or possible such as:

THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information contained on this website is not intended to be a substitute for, or to be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This website is for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

The new system is part of the Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) and is managed by consortia of stakeholders, ranging from pharma manufacturers, both innovative and generic pharma industry, to wholesalers, community pharmacists, hospitals and hospital pharmacies.

According to the European Medicines Authority (EMA), falsified medicines are fake medicines designed to mimic real medicines. Surveys suggest that the prevalence of counterfeit medicines in the legal supply chain in Europe is approximately 0.005%.

Regarding the unserialised medicines that are already on the market, EMVO President Hugh Pullen explained that they would continue to circulate together until the serialised until they have walked their way out of the supply chain.

"With this Directive, member states' authorities will have from now an additional tool when investigating potential incidents of falsification and will be able to trace individual medicinal products in the EU. This being said the Commission, of course, carries out regular audits in the member states," the sources added.

In Canada, the licensing of pharmacies and/or pharmacists is under the jurisdiction of provincial and territorial pharmacy regulatory authorities who are members of the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA).

If you have a complaint about health products purchased online with a major credit card or debit, you may report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centreat fa...@antifraudcentre.ca or fa...@centreantifraude.ca. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, managed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with the Competition Bureau and Ontario Provincial Police, collects information regarding illegal sites to facilitate law enforcement action against unlawful operations.

If you are buying from websites located outside of Canada, know that there are restrictions when it comes to shipping medications across the border. You cannot legally import a prescription drug unless you are a practitioner, a drug manufacturer, a wholesale druggist, a registered pharmacist, or a resident of a foreign country while a visitor in Canada.

In situations where you may require access to a medically-necessary drug for a serious or life-threatening condition where there is no market authorized drug available in Canada and for which alternative conventional therapies have failed or are unsuitable, Health Canada's Special Access Programme (SAP) is available to help your doctor gain access to these products on your behalf. More information on SAP can be found in the following link: -canada/services/drugs-health-products/special-access/drugs.html.

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