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FDA Warns 19 Medical Practices: Foreign Medical Distributor Gave Out Fakes, Including Fake Cancer Drugs

February 15, 2012
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The FDA has issued letters to 19 US medical practices that purchased medication from a foreign supplier, Quality Specialty Products (QSP), warning that drugs distributed by QSP are known to be unapproved by the FDA, and in at least one instance verified counterfeit.

QSP, also known as Montana Health Care Solutions, has been identified by the FDA as the distributor of counterfeit Avastin. Roche AG, the manufacturer, has said that the counterfeit Avastin was tested and found to contain no active ingredient. Avastin is FDA approved for use in metastatic colorectal cancer, advanced nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer, metastatic kidney cancer, and glioblastoma.

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FDA Alert: Counterfeit Version of Avastin in U.S. Distribution

February 15, 2012
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This is a reprint of the FDA Safety Alert. FDA sends letters to 19 medical practices about counterfeit product and other unapproved cancer medicines   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning health care professionals and patients about a counterfeit version of Avastin 400mg/16mL, which may have been purchased and used by some medical practices in the United States.  Avastin…

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Counterfeit Cancer Treatment Drug Found in United States

February 14, 2012
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View in a larger map A counterfeit version of the cancer therapy drug Avastin has been found in the United States, announced Roche Holding AG, a Swiss company. Vials of the medication were tested at Roche and found not to contain the active ingredients, according to Genentech, a division of Roche. A foreign supplier of the drug, Quality Special Products…

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Counterfeit Avastin Image

February 14, 2012
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Images of counterfeit Avastin courtesy of Genentech.Health providers should verify product authenticity by comparing lot numbers provided by the FDA.

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Counterfeit Cancer Medication Found in U.S.

February 14, 2012
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A counterfeit version of Avastin cancer therapy has been found in the U.S. announced manufacturer Roche Holding AG, a Swiss company.

Vials of the medication were tested by Roche and found to not contain the active ingredients, according to Roche’s Genentech unit, reported The Wall Street Journal.

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Alert: Unapproved Drug Found in RegenArouse, Recalled by Maker

February 13, 2012
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This is a reprint of the FDA alert. Regeneca, Inc. announced today that it is conducting a voluntary nationwide recall of RegenArouse, Lot Number 130100, because FDA lab analysis has confirmed the presence of Tadalafil making these products unapproved new drugs. Tadalafil is an FDA-approved drug used as treatment for male Erectile Dysfunction (ED). The active drug ingredient is not…

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British Men Sentenced for Illegal Online Sale of Pharmaceuticals

February 10, 2012
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Clemsford Crown Court sentenced two men who pleaded guilty to advertising and selling prescription only medicines on websites. The two Essex residents, Steven Corbersmith, 35, from Frinton-on-Sea, and Stefa Hazell, 28, from Kirby-le-Soken. ran two websites that illegally sold prescription only medications clomiphene citrate, used for fertility enhancement, and anabolic steroids, reported the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency…

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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.

February 9, 2012
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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 prevalence of online marketing for…

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AstraZeneca Backs Counterfeit Drug Penalty Legislation in US Congress

January 20, 2012
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On January 19, 2012, AstraZeneca sent members of Congress a letter supporting legislation to increase penalties for counterfeit prescription drug crime.

The letters were sent to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA), and Representative Patrick Meehan (R-PA), bill sponsors along with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT.).

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Fake Antimalarial Drugs Endangering Millions, Killing Children and Pregnant Women

January 20, 2012
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The most potent anti-malarial drug has been found in counterfeit version in 11 African countries. On top of not curing patients sick with deadly malaria, lower than therapeutic doses of the active ingredient artemisinin in the fake meds can cause the parasites to develop resistance to the medication. In essence, the counterfeit drugs are likely to cause a mutation in the parasite, creating a newer, deadlier version of malaria not able to be cured by any known medication.

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