US govt bodies unite to battle fake pharma
Counterfeit medicine and drugs cause more than one million deaths a year | Trio of bodies will work jointly together | National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center | Homeland Security Investigations.
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) has partnered with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI) to combat the illicit pharmaceutical trade.
An announcement shared on Monday, December 19, explained that the trio have united to protect patients from the health and safety threats posed by counterfeit medications.
Jim Mancuso, director of the IPR Center, said: “According to the World Health Organization more than one million deaths occur annually from counterfeit medicine and drugs.
“Networking, connecting resources and sharing information enhances our ability to prevent the sale and importation of these dangerous pharmaceuticals around the world and protect consumers from the harm illegal online pharmacies pose.”
PSI—which represents pharmaceutical companies around the world—will work with the US government bodies to develop comprehensive strategies to investigate the manufacture, importation, transportation, sale, and distribution of counterfeit or unapproved medications and medical devices.
Todd Ratcliffe, president and CEO at PSI, added: “Consuming counterfeit or illegally diverted medicines poses a threat to public health and can have serious consequences for individuals and communities globally.
“PSI’s partnership with the IPR Center reinforces our commitment to continue to use all of our resources, while leveraging our strong relationship with our industry and governmental partners to help stop the illegal flow of counterfeit and unapproved medical products globally.”
Earlier this week, LSIPR reported that a Europol-coordinated operation seized more than 10.5 million counterfeit and misused medical products.
During Operation Shield, which took place between April and October this year, law enforcement officers dismantled 59 criminal groups and identified 349 suspects.
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