XStream Systems Stories and News for the Week of October 24, 2008

Here are a few of stories that we at XStream Systems think are noteworthy as it relates to the ever growing issues of counterfeit and adulterated medications. XStream Systems thinks that its revolutionary technology that is capable of materials analysis of medications inside of sealed containers will be an important part of solving this global problem:

Demand for Foreign Products Changing FDA, Official Says
The FDA needs to shift its approach on imports to one that minimizes risk at each point in the product life cycle — from foreign manufacture to domestic use, according to Timothy Ulatowski, director of compliance in the agency’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. The FDA will release a draft guidance soon that outlines standards for third-party certification programs for FDA-regulated products, he said. It also is preparing a draft guidance on good importer practices.

A New "Double-Dose" Pill Drug Recall Is Issued By ETHEX Corp.
ETHEX Corporation announced today that it has voluntarily recalled three specific lots (77946, 81141 and 81142) of Dextroamphetamine Sulfate 5 mg tablets, as a precaution, due to the possible presence of oversized tablets. Oversized tablets may contain as much as about twice the labeled amount of the active ingredient.

FDA To Open Multiple Inspection Offices Abroad By Year-End
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will send the first FDA inspection teams to new offices in China, India, Europe, and Latin America before the end of 2008, according to HHS. "In the past year, we've upgraded labs and equipment, hired additional staff, and begun implementing product safety agreements with key trading partner, including China," stated HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt.

FTC Breaks Up Spam Network Which Illegally Sold Drugs Online
The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that it has broken up a global spam network responsible for sending billions of illegal messages encouraging consumers to buy unsafe male-enhancement and weight loss pills. The spam network, which processed credit card information in Cyprus and Georgia, used servers in China to host its websites. The FTC said the network used by this operation compromised tens of thousands of computers around the world and was capable of sending up to 10 billion spam messages per day. The bogus drugs were shipped from China and India.