Thieves Hijack $8.8m in Sanofi-Aventis Products

As reported by the Associated Press and SecuringPharma.com, authorities are investigating the reported theft of a tractor-trailer carrying approximately $8.8 million in pharmaceutical drugs from a truck stop in Temple, Georgia.

The July theft, at the Pilot Truck Stop was a shipment of Sanofi-Aventis products which included blood thinners and cold and nasal medicine. It was the second theft of an entire truck at this particular truck stop in recent months.

SecuringPharma.com quotes Freightwatch International (FWI) which indicates that “in 2008 pharmaceutical thefts in the USA rose by a third, with criminals actively targeting drug shipments on an unprecedented scale”

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it has asked for help from pharmaceutical drug distributors and pharmacies, which may have received unsolicited or suspicious offers for the Sanofi-Aventis drug products, in tracing the stolen batches. They also urge those involved in the pharmaceutical supply chain to verify pedigrees received with any wholesale drug purchases.

XStream Systems encourages distributors and dispensers to verify their transactions via pedigree but also to properly screen their receivables and returns to authenticate the medications inside the packaging.

“FDA is committed to protecting the public from receiving stolen drug products that may not have been stored and handled properly and may be dangerous for patients to use,” said the agency in a statement.

Full details of the batch and lot numbers are as follows:

LOVENOX 120MG - batch/lot numbers: 12210, 12221, and 12218
LOVENOX 30MG - batch/lot number: 29395
LOVENOX 80MG - batch/lot number: 28534
XYZAL 5MG - batch/lot number: 8047787
NASACORT AQ 16.5G - batch/lot number: N09108A
BENZACLIN GEL 50G PUMP - batch/lot number: 8047564

For the full story from SecuringPharma visit: SecuringPharma.com

The World Health Organization estimates Poland spends up to $31.6M USD Annually on Fake Medicine

The following report from Polish Radio estimates the annual spend by Polish consumers on counterfeit products and seizures by customs officials:

Customs officials say that medications are the third most often falsified product, giving the example of the popular sexual enhancement drug Viagra as often being made of Plaster of Paris.

WHO adds that it is particularly easy to purchase false drugs in Poland as one can acquire medication through the internet – on auction sites and on sites who claim to be pharmacies.

According to WHO, Poles spend around 100 million zloty (over $31.6 Million USD) a year on fake medicine – most often on sexual performance, weight loss and psychotropic drugs.

Cases have been regularly reported in the press, however, of Poles being taken for a ride by unscrupulous dealers. Recently a teenager from Silesia took Chinese booster drugs that turned out to contain significant quantities of lead. A resident of Elk, northern Poland, was arrested three weeks ago for selling false sexual enhancement drugs over the internet – made of plaster.

In 2008, Polish customs officials seized over 100,000 false drugs. Medications are the third most often falsified products following cigarettes and electronic devices.

To view article visit: polskieradio.pl

UK Associations Supporting MHRA Requirements to Combat Drug Counterfeits

Medical News Today reported that several prominent pharmacy associations within the UK are supporting proposals for the MHRA to strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain and reduce the risk from counterfeit medications.

This endorsement, seemingly unprecedented within the US and EU, is another telltale sign that the impact of fake and counterfeit medications within this highly regulated and developed nation has reached a point where significant measures need to be in place to protect the pharmaceutical supply and its consumers. Hopefully other pharmacy organizations within the US and EU will follow suit to protect their populations.

Read the story below:

Pharmacy Bodies Response To Reducing The Risk From Counterfeit Medicine

(March 26, 2009) The Association of Independent Multiples (AIMp), Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW), Company Chemists Association (CCA), The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) have responded to the MHRA consultation on measures to strengthen the medicines supply chain and reduce the risk from counterfeit medicines.

The pharmacy bodies support the proposals for the MHRA to strengthen the requirements for holding a Wholesalers dealer licence (WDL) and also the new proposals for Responsible Persons with the establishment of a Code of Conduct against which Responsible Persons can be judged. The MHRA should also have the power to remove a Responsible Person from the register. The bodies also support the introduction of a due diligence obligation for the holder of a WDL.

Whilst supporting the proposals to ensuring that potential offences relating to counterfeit medicines are provided for in legislation the bodies oppose the introduction of an offence for failing to report a suspect counterfeit medicine. A criminal sanction is inappropriate for failure to report.

To view the article visit www.medicalnewstoday.com