It seems like a problem that would exist only in the developing world counterfeit drugs making it into the mainstream market. But American consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about counterfeit medications ending up in their own pharmacies: The FDA has confirmed that a fake version of the cancer drug Avastin was sold to at least 19 doctors and clinics. Fortunately, although the counterfeit drug did not contain any actual Avastin, there have been no reports of harm. But in the wake of several other counterfeiting incidents in the U.S., including the weight-loss drug Alli and the cholesterol-lowering Lipitor, it appears that fake drugs are indeed a reality even in our country.
We have no way of knowing what counterfeit medicines contain, or whether they were produced in carefully controlled conditions, says ACSH s Dr. Ruth Kava. In addition to having no efficacy, they could also contain contaminants.
ACSH s Dr. Josh Bloom says that the biggest concern is with IV drugs. If these contain any contaminants, such as bacteria or particulate matter, they will go straight into the bloodstream, which could do a lot of harm, he notes. Although counterfeit pills can be dangerous, the potential for harm is greater with injectables.
While some counterfeit drugs are infiltrating the American market, the developing world is certainly harder hit than developed regions; in Asia and Latin America, up to 30 percent of medications sold are fake, as opposed to just 1 percent in the U.S. and other developed countries. Indeed, out of the 1,700 counterfeiting incidents reported by pharmaceutical companies last year, only 6 percent occurred in the U.S.
Overall, ACSH's Dr. Elizabeth Whelan would like to reassure the public that counterfeit drugs are extremely rare in the U.S. You should by no means be afraid to go to the pharmacy and pick up a prescription, she says. To read more about this problem and what can be done to help prevent the spread of potentially dangerous fakes, check out ACSH s 2009 publication, Counterfeit Drugs: Coming to a Pharmacy Near You.
