Leading Health Care, Law Enforcement and Government Officials Join with Industry and Patient Advocates to Assess State of Counterfeit Medicines

U.S. FDA Commissioner Hamburg Urges Physicians,
Patients to Only Purchase Medicines from Reliable Sources to
Better Protect Against Fake Drugs

Washington, D.C. (September 28, 2012) – The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM)
today convened leading domestic and international stakeholders in the fight
against counterfeit and substandard medicines, making a renewed commitment to
work together and implement new solutions to protect
patients worldwide. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret
Hamburg, in a keynote to the conference, highlighted new efforts her agency is
undertaking to reduce the threat and pledged the FDA’s ongoing support to
ensure a safe U.S. drug supply.

U.S. FDA Commissioner Hamburg Urges Physicians,
Patients to Only Purchase Medicines from Reliable Sources to
Better Protect Against Fake Drugs

Washington, D.C. (September 28, 2012) – The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM)
today convened leading domestic and international stakeholders in the fight
against counterfeit and substandard medicines, making a renewed commitment to
work together and implement new solutions to protect
patients worldwide. U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret
Hamburg, in a keynote to the conference, highlighted new efforts her agency is
undertaking to reduce the threat and pledged the FDA’s ongoing support to
ensure a safe U.S. drug supply.

"The
American people have every right to expect that the medicines they rely on are
exactly what the package and label say they are – and that the medicines have
been carefully evaluated by FDA for safety, efficacy, and quality," said
FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. "Our success in addressing this
global challenge will depend on collaborating with public health and regulatory
partners here in the United States and around the world."

The
event brought together more than 140 participants, representing government,
health care, law enforcement and patient advocacy. This is the third year that
PSM has hosted a global Interchange event in Washington, D.C.

“This
year’s Interchange was our boldest, most ambitious effort to date,” said PSM
President Dr. Marvin D. Shepherd. “By bringing together stakeholders from as
far away as India and Great Britain to share information and ideas on how to
win the war on counterfeit medicines, we are sending a message to counterfeiters
worldwide: the noose is tightening, and you can’t hide forever. As regulators
and law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad come to grips with the
great public health risk of fake drugs, our efforts and successes will only
intensify in the future.”

In
addition to keynote speaker Hamburg, Interchange speakers included John
Castellani, President and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of
America (PhRMA) and Ralph Neas, President and CEO of the Generic Pharmaceutical
Association (GPhA). The heads of the two largest pharmaceutical trade
associations joined together for a panel discussion to highlight areas of
cooperation between their respective industries, as well as ongoing worldwide
efforts to stem the tide of counterfeit medicines infiltrating America’s
borders. Stakeholders also heard from U.S. and UK government officials, as well
as leading academics and patient advocates.

“In
an increasingly global society, heightened cooperation and information-sharing
between stakeholders around the world is an invaluable tool to help us identify
and put a stop to the criminals who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens,”
said PSM Treasurer Tom Kubic. “And as more allies join our cause, we are better
able to spread our message and educate the public at large about the extreme
risks of counterfeit medicines and how to protect themselves and their
families.”

The complete Interchange is available online for viewing courtesy of C-Span.