A Utah County couple probably found it a hard pill to swallow when federal agents busted them for distributing fake Viagra and Cialis for a Hong Kong-based counterfeit drug operation. On Monday federal prosecutors cut them a break, sparing them prison time, in exchange for helping them with their investigation, which led to the bust of a Chinese dealer. By…

The proliferation of counterfeit drugs on the global market and easy availability via online pharmacies is an increasing problem. The makers of counterfeit drugs have enjoyed and profited from loopholes in a system designed to deliver healthy medicines to those in need. The rising cost of prescription medications and the ubiquitous presence of online and overseas pharmacies means more people…

BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese authorities have arrested 10 people they said were responsible for making and selling fake drugs in eastern Jiangsu Province, state media reported on Friday. "The fake drug ring penetrated 14 provinces across the country and had dozens of underground paths of distribution selling human albumin," Xinhua News Agency quoted provincial officials as saying. 14 March 2008…

If hundreds of Americans were poisoned after ingesting counterfeit drugs from China, uproar would follow. Voters would demand a ban on Chinese pharmaceutical imports. U.S. lawmakers might feel obliged to enact one. This scenario is less far-fetched than it sounds. Last year, two American and three Australian children were hospitalized after swallowing Aqua Dots, popular beads used in arts and…

Manitoba regulators have decided to stop licensing the province's controversial Internet pharmacies, arguing it is impossible to oversee operations whose customers live mostly in another country. The move, scheduled to take effect at the end of June, could kill the industry in Manitoba, prompting its 22 businesses to close or relocate. By Tom Blackwell 13 March 2008 Read the full…

WAVY.com continues to follow developing news concerning illegal online drugs. Police have shut down the out-of-state pharmacy that sent medication to a local 16-year-old. And now, we've learned the pharmacy is accused of contributing to another person's death. Tracy Taylor tells us her troubles began when her husband was in a car accident. His doctor prescribed painkillers – and he…