The EU is considering pushing for stronger intellectual property rights laws at world trade talks. The EU says counterfeiting is now a global criminal racket operating with organised crime rings in arms, drugs and cigarettes. October 21, 2005 Read the full story at lankabusinessonline.com.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich's controversial plan to help Illinois residents buy prescription drugs from foreign pharmacies has failed to draw huge numbers of participants. October 20, 2005 Read the full story at southernillinoisan.com.

After his recently confirmed Food and Drug Administration commissioner suddenly resigned, President Bush wisely tapped Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach to fill the slot. By Peter Pitts October 20, 2005 Read the full story at washingtontimes.com.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Governments must cooperate to stop the global spread of counterfeit drugs, most of which come from India and China, two of the world's biggest pharmaceutical firms said on Wednesday. October 19, 2005 Read the full story at boston.com.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 – After a two-year search, the Food and Drug Administration named a new director to its Office of Drug Safety from within its own ranks Wednesday and gave the unit more authority. By Gardiner Harris October 19, 2005 Read the full story at nytimes.com.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday warned against fake medicines after recently busting a Luzon-based ring. The NBI is working with the departments of trade and health to find ways to distinguish low-cost government-imported medicines from spurious ones. By Julmunir I Jannaral October 18, 2005 Read the full story at Gulf-Times.com.

LONDON (Reuters) – Internet auction site eBay pulled the sale of Roche Holding AG's flu drug Tamiflu from its Web site Tuesday, after prices topped 100 pounds ($175) on growing fears about the spread of bird flu. October 18, 2005 Read the full story at Money.Cnn.com.

One of the challenges for law enforcement in the 21st century is internet pharmaceutical drug traffickers operating in the United States. These online, legitimate looking and sounding pharmacies are peddling dangerous narcotics and other drugs, and in some cases counterfeit drugs that are ineffective for patients. By Jim Kouri, CPP October 16, 2005 Read the full story at mensnewsdaily.com.

These days, pharmaceutical companies rank even below tobacco companies in the public's esteem, Kirk Huber of Novartis reports. "We have a battered reputation, and it's disturbing," he said. "Tobacco kills people, but our products help make people's quality of life better." Warren Boroson October 14, 2005 Read the full story at DailyRecord.com.