Fake medicines on the Internet

Every second drug offered on the internet is counterfeit

09/04/2013

The German Society of Internal Medicine (DGIM) warns against counterfeit drugs from the Internet. About half of the drugs offered on the internet are counterfeits and could, according to the experts at the 119th Congress of the German Society for Internal Medicine in Wiesbaden in case of doubt „Endanger life.“ Also included „About one-fifth of counterfeit substances that can cause physical injury“, stressed the DGIM.

In view of the extreme profit margin, almost all preparations are also offered as counterfeits, from nutritional supplements to potency drugs, cancer therapeutics and HIV medicines. The experts of the DGIM therefore discussed intensively at the current congress, as they did „Protect patients, doctors, businesses and healthcare from the dangers of plagiarized medicines.“ One of the skin problems is that the plagiarism is often difficult to detect even for doctors.

Profit margin on counterfeit medicines higher than on illicit drugs
How lucrative the business with the counterfeit medicines is, explains the DGIM in a recent press release on the example of illegal drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. Here are people willing to take the risk of imprisonment for a profit margin that amounts to about 25 times the capital invested. For counterfeit drugs, however, the profit margin is much higher. Thus, for example, the fake drug Sildenafil profit margins of far more than 200 times introduced, reports the DGIM, citing the information of the Customs investigation Cologne. Furthermore, in the press release of the DGIM Volker Kerrutt of the Zollfahndungsamt Cologne, the statement is quoted: „While drug trafficking is being pursued around the world, similar international standards are missing in the fight against illicit drug trafficking.“

Drug counterfeits pose a significant health hazard
However, the counterfeit drugs not only caused significant economic damage and income losses to the pharmaceutical industry, but also provide one „potent threat to human health“, warned Professor Ulrich R. Fölsch, Secretary General of the DGIM in Kiel. The drug counterfeits are usually sold via the Internet. According to the DGIM, this means that around half of the drugs available in the internet are counterfeit. Counterfeiting is understood to mean all preparations according to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO), „their identity or origin intentionally mislabeled“ is.

Fake AIDS drugs and cancer drugs
As counterfeits in the Internet are offered potency drugs (eg Viagra), doping (eg anabolic steroids), sedatives and sleep aids, concentration-promoting drugs, but also drugs that are used to treat serious diseases, such as antibiotics and prescription drugs for AIDS - and cancer therapy. Although there is a residual risk with regard to counterfeiting even when buying in the pharmacy, but the likelihood here is significantly lower and corresponding counterfeits in preparations in pharmacies are rather the exception, the experts report.

Security system against drug counterfeiting planned
The goal must be to ensure complete safety in the interests of the patient „Making medicines safer and their origin traceable“, explained Dr. Franz-Josef Wingen, spokesman of the corporative members of the DGIM from Leverkusen. The EU is also aiming for the introduction of a security system by 2017. Currently, development is moving towards a system where each package carries a serial number encoded in a square data matrix code. How the end customers can reliably recognize plagiarism, but so far is not yet clear.

In case of doubt waive the intake of possibly counterfeit medicines
Already today, the DGIM advises on medicines „In any case, from taking if the leaflet is missing.“ In addition, could „an unusual texture or color indicates a fake.“ However, in case of doubt, security only offers the expertise of an expert. However, those who purchase medicines on the Internet should be aware of the high counterfeiting rate and prefer to visit a pharmacy for preparations for the treatment of serious illnesses, especially since personal counseling is also offered here. (Fp)

Image: Sara Hegewald