The Food and Drug Administration has shut down 1,288 illegal online pharmacies in the USA. An international action involving regulatory bodies around the world and governments of 99 nations shut down 9,610 online pharmacies globally between June 18th and 25th.
“Operation Pangea VI”
“Operation Pangea VI”
- Issuing regulatory warnings
- Closing down of offending websites
- Seizure of $41,104,386 worth of illegal medications around the world
“Illegal online pharmacies put American consumers’ health at risk by selling potentially dangerous products. This is an ongoing battle in the United States and abroad, and the FDA will continue its criminal law enforcement and regulatory efforts.
The agency is pleased to participate in Operation Pangea to protect consumers and strengthen relationships with international partners who join in this fight.”
“During one week (in the UK) we have seized £12.2 million ($18.62 million) worth of counterfeit and unlicensed medicines. These were being stored in unacceptable conditions and supplied through illegal internet websites without prescriptions by people who are not qualified to dispense medicines.
When people buy medicines from an illegal website they don’t know what they’re getting, where it came from or if it’s safe to take. The dose could be too high or too low, or the ingredients could break down incorrectly in the body, which makes the medicine ineffective. They could also become victims of credit card or identity fraud as well as downloading computer viruses.
We have closed down 1,288 of these illegal websites, but people need to take the time to see their GP about any problems they have with their health. People are far more likely to get better faster if they are on the correct course of safely prescribed medication.”
- Generic Celebrex – there is currently no therapeutically equivalent version of Celebrex available. According to drugs.com “Fraudulent online pharmacies may attempt to sell an illegal generic version of Celebrex”. Brand name Celebrex (celecoxib) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and to manage acute pain in adult patients. The drug must be dispensed with a medication guide which explains the risks of heart attack, gastrointestinal bleeding or stroke.
- Avandaryl (glimepiride and rosiglitazone) – a medication used to control blood sugar for some type 2 diabetes patients. Avandaryl raises the risk of heart attack or stroke, so it is only available to certain patients who cannot control their diabetes with other medications.
In the USA patients must be registered in the Avandia-Rosiglitazone Medicines Access Program. To be registered they sign documents stating that they understand the risks. - Clozapine – Clozaril (clozapine) is approved by the FDA for the treatment of schizophrenia. It is linked to potentially fatal agranulocytosis, a dangerously low white blood cell count that significantly raises the risk of life-threatening infection. Patients on Clozaril need to be enrolled in a registry that makes sure their blood counts are regularly monitored.
- Levitra Super Force and Viagra Super Force – Viagra (sildenafil) and Levitra (vardenafil) are FDA-approved medications for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, Viagra Super Force and Levitra Super Force, which sellers claim contains dapoxetine, is not approved. The FDA has not determined how safe dapoxetine is for certain patients. Individuals with some heart conditions should not take sildenafil or vardenafil.
- Credit card fraud
- Computer viruses
- Identity theft
- FDA
- Heads of Medicines Agencies Working Group of Enforcement Officers
- INTERPOL
- The national health and law enforcement agencies from 99 nations
- The Permanent Forum of International Pharmaceutical Crime
- The pharmaceutical industry
- The World Customs Organization