Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - (Page 4)

*Editor’s comment Faking it Counterfeit goods have been around ever since commerce was established. The opportunity to make a quick buck copying someone else’s idea has always been too much to resist for some people. From Gucci handbags, TAG watches and all manner of clothes through to iPods and other high-value electrical goods, nothing is beyond the reach of counterfeiters. And why not? There is a market after all. However, and very worryingly, we are now seeing an increase in the number of medications being copied; a practice that FDA describes as “particularly insidious”. Why? Because fake drugs not only defraud consumers, manufacturers and governments, they also deny patients the opportunity to overcome their ailments — very literally putting them in a life/death situation. According to WHO, the profit margins involved in counterfeit medicines is now comparable to that of hard drug trafficking. But unless you know what you are looking for, it is impossible for doctors and patients to tell that something is the genuine article, or a fake containing brick dust or furniture polish (two of the ingredients found in counterfeit heart drugs seized by EU customs officers). And herein lies the problem; if you take prescribed medication and it doesn’t work, you’ll go back to your doctor — he/she could correctly assume that either you’re not taking it correctly or you’re just one of the people that the medicine has no affect on. Would either of you stop to think it was because the drug was fake? No, because you trust the supply chain. And how can it be that in some countries patients have a much greater chance of getting their hands on a counterfeit drug than the real thing? Pricing is now playing a major role in fake drugs getting into the system. Pharmacies and hospitals are free to purchase medicines through any legal avenue (including parallel traders), which helps them achieve the best possible price. The drawback of this is that many middlemen are now involved in the increasingly complex supply chain, with drugs passing through literally dozens of hands before reaching the end-user. Take the example a few years ago of GSK and its antiretroviral AIDS drugs that were supposed to be allocated to a number of African countries. Valuing £18 million (€27 million), the drugs were shipped back to Europe and sold at much higher prices to EU customers by a parallel trader. Could GSK do anything about it and stop it happening again? No. What can be done? Well, the EU currently supports parallel trade, whereas naturally the manufacturers are completely against it. But progress may be forthcoming. At the 1st Parliamentary Symposium on Pharmaceuticals: Putting an end to drug counterfeiting (Brussels, Belgium), Vice President of the European Commission, Gunther Verheugen, Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, said that the EU will be reviewing and making possible proposals on the issue of counterfeits in 2008. The commissioner has launched a major review of legislation and distribution of pharmaceuticals and asked all stakeholders for help in providing information to the public. Mr Verheugen called for stronger efforts to help developing countries and claimed it is wrong that companies sometimes employ lower standards when supplying to developing countries compared with the EU. It’s pleasing to see that action is being taken; let’s hope that all sides are involved in the discussions and that patient safety is put before profits. You might have to pay a higher price for your medication, but if that ensures your health, it will be a small price to pay. Gurminder Marwaha 4 July 2007 l pharmaceutical technologist

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007

Contents
Editor's Comment
News
Morpheus
Market Watch
Market Trends for Self-Injection Technologies
Special Delivery
Q&A

Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007

Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - (Page Intro)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - (Page 1)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - (Page 2)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Contents (Page 3)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Editor's Comment (Page 4)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Editor's Comment (Page 5)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - News (Page 6)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - News (Page 7)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - News (Page 8)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - News (Page 9)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Morpheus (Page 10)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Morpheus (Page 11)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Market Watch (Page 12)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Market Watch (Page 13)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Market Watch (Page 14)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Market Watch (Page 15)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Market Trends for Self-Injection Technologies (Page 16)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Market Trends for Self-Injection Technologies (Page 17)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Market Trends for Self-Injection Technologies (Page 18)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Market Trends for Self-Injection Technologies (Page 19)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Special Delivery (Page 20)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Special Delivery (Page 21)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Special Delivery (Page 22)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Q&A (Page 23)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Q&A (Page 24)
Pharmaceutical Technologist - July 2007 - Q&A (Page 25)
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