MedPage Today: FDA Warns Consumers About Fake Tamiflu

MedPage Today’s Cole Petrochko, writes about the FDA warning consumers on Friday about websites selling a fake "generic" version of the flu drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), which may be dangerous to patients allergic to penicillin.

According to the FDA and MedPage Today:

· The Tamiflu fake does not contain the active ingredient of the drug it imitates but does contain cloxacillin, which can cause anaphylaxis in patients allergic to antibiotics in the same class as penicillin.

· The FDA uncovered the mimic through purchasing the drug from an online retailer claiming to be an out-of-business drugstore, which mailed the agency a package from India, the FDA said in a prepared statement.

· The drug came in two foil-backed blister packages labeled "Oseltamivir Phosphate 75 mg. Capsules TM-FLU" and containing 15 yellow and tan capsules each filled with white powder. The fraudulent pills are manufactured by TRYDRUGS Pharmaceuticals PVT. LTD. according to the sample blister pack, the agency said.

· The FDA cautioned that legitimate online pharmacies exist and that consumers can protect themselves against fraudulent and potentially dangerous drugs by looking for the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Verified Internet Pharmacy Sites (VIPPS) Seal.

Although this counterfeit retailer has been caught, the FDA is warning all that it is likely that other nefarious sources will attempt to sell this harmful counterfeit.

To date the FDA has not received any reports of consumers suffering from adverse effects of the fake. Anyone who has purchased a generic Tamiflu medication is encouraged to contact the FDA’s Office Of Criminal Investigations. If a consumer has taken the drug and is showing signs of adverse effects the should report them to the FDA’s MedWatch program.

To read the entire MedPage Today story, visit:

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/FDAGeneral/20741.

This is another significant chapter in the continued assult on global health care consumers by criminals selling dangerous counterfeit drugs.

Secure Pharma Chain Blog endorses and encourages consumers of only buying medications and health care products from legitimate, regulated and licensed pharmacies that utilize solutions and technologies which protects their inventories from fraudulent, adulterated and counterfeit medications.

To learn more about anti-counterfeiting technologies, visit: http://www.xstreamsystems.net/.