Research: All Articles
Liang BA*, Mackey TK, Lovett KM. Suspect Online Sellers and Contraceptive Access. J.Contraception. 2012.04.011.
Issues surrounding contraception access have been a national focus. During this debate, adolescent and adult women may seek these products online. Due to safety concerns, including potential counterfeit forms, we wished to assess whether online “no prescription” contraceptives were available.
[...]Ambroise-Thomas P. The Tragedy Caused by Fake Antimalarial Drugs. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis. 2012; 4(1): e2012027.
Abstract Counterfeit antimalarials (mainly artemisinin derivatives) is a crucial health problem in developing countries, particularly in Africa. The illegal production, sale and distribution of fake drugs is a huge market evaluated to several billion of dollars and represents more than 50% of the pharmaceutical market in several African countries. Fake drugs have led to a…
[...]Pillai DR., Lau R, Khairnar K, et al. Artemether resistance in vitro is linked to mutations in PfATP6 that also interact with mutations in PfMDR1 in travellers returning with Plasmodium falciparum infections. Malar J. 2012, 11:131.
Abstract Background Monitoring resistance phenotypes for Plasmodium falciparum, using in vitro growth assays, and relating findings to parasite genotype has proved particularly challenging for the study of resistance to artemisinins. Methods Plasmodium falciparum isolates cultured from 28 returning travellers diagnosed with malaria were assessed for sensitivity to artemisinin, artemether, dihydroartemisinin and artesunate and findings related…
[...]Jackson G, Patel S, Khan S. Assessing the Problem of Counterfeit Medications in the United Kingdom. Int J Clin Pract. 2012 Mar;66(3):241-50.
Abstract Counterfeit medicines pose an ever-increasing threat to public health, although precise tracking of illegal counterfeit prescription drug activity is difficult. Available data indicate that all types of medications have been targeted. Adverse health effects, including death, have resulted from using counterfeit medications; consumers who self-medicate without appropriate interactions with the healthcare system rarely receive…
[...]Liang BA*, & Mackey TK, Online Availability and Safety of Drugs in Shortage: A Descriptive Study of Internet Vendor Characteristics. J Med Internet Res. 2012 Feb 9;14(1):e27.
ABSTRACT Background: Unprecedented drug shortages announced by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have severely affected therapeutic access, patient safety, and public health. With continued shortages, patients may seek drugs online. Objective: To assess the prevalence of online marketing for current FDA shortage drugs and potential patient safety risks. Methods: We performed a descriptive study of the…
[...]Jena AB, Goldman DP, Foster SE, Califano JA. Prescription Medication Abuse and Illegitimate Internet-based Pharmacies. Ann Intern Med. 2011 Dec 20;155(12):848-50.
Abstract Abuse of controlled prescription medications in the United States exceeds that of all illicit drugs combined except marijuana and has grown considerably in the past decade. Although available through traditional channels, controlled prescription medications can also be purchased on the Internet without a prescription. This issue has gained the attention of federal regulators, law…
[...]Mackey TK, Liang BA*. The Global Counterfeit Drug Trade: Patient Safety and Public Health Risks. J Pharm Sci. 2011 Nov;100(11):4571-9.
Abstract Counterfeit drugs are a global problem with significant and well-documented consequences for global health and patient safety, including drug resistance and patient deaths. This multibillion-dollar industry does not respect geopolitical borders, and threatens public health in both rich and resource-poor nations alike. The epidemiology of counterfeits is also wide in breadth and scope, including…
[...]Liang BA*, Mackey TK. Vaccine shortages and suspect online pharmacy sellers. Vaccine (2011), doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.11.016
Abstract Vaccines represent half the products on the FDA Biologics Product Shortages list. As a result, providers and patients may purchase them online, a process rife with patient safety risks. We examined vaccine online availability by assessing up to 5 identified online sellers. We determined if sites were accredited by the National Association of Boards…
[...]Orizio G, Merla A, Schulz PJ, Gelatti U. Quality of Online Pharmacies and Websites Selling Prescription Drugs: a Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res. 2011 Sep 30;13(3):e74.
Abstract BACKGROUND: Online pharmacies are companies that sell pharmaceutical preparations, including prescription-only drugs, on the Internet. Very little is known about this phenomenon because many online pharmacies operate from remote countries, where legal bases and business practices are largely inaccessible to international research. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to perform an up-to-date and…
[...]Leontiadis N, Moore T, Christin N. Measuring and Analyzing Search-Redirection Attacks in the Illicit Online Prescription Drug Trade. Proceedings of the USENIX Security Symposium; 2011: San Francisco, California: USENIX Security Symposium; 2011 p. 1-17.
Abstract: We investigate the manipulation of web search results to promote the unauthorized sale of prescription drugs. We focus on search-redirection attacks, where miscreants compromise high-ranking websites and dynamically redirect traffic to different pharmacies based upon the particular search terms issued by the consumer. We constructed a representative list of 218 drug-related queries and automatically…
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