Pfizer warns over counterfeit medication

Pfizer has this week welcomed the first ever symposium on pharmaceuticals from the European Parliament – entitled “Putting an end to drug counterfeiting” – attended by regulators, specialists in the field and policymakers.

The firm highlighted the problem of counterfeit medication finding its way into legitimate supply chains as a result of the complex and disjointed method by which pharmaceuticals are distributed throughout the continent.

Citing the case of its Lipitor product in July 2006, Pfizer noted that following a recall of the drug from 240 pharmacies in the UK, half of all returned packs were discovered to be counterfeit.

Julian Mount, vice-president of European trade at the firm, said: “Pfizer is very concerned about the surges in counterfeit medicines, putting at risk the lives and wellbeing of patients in Europe and elsewhere.”

“It is particularly difficult for patients to know if a medicine is counterfeit when it is supplied through trusted sources.”

He added that while internet trading in pharmaceutical products results in the spread of some fake drug, counterfeits have also entered the legitimate supply chain in Europe.

In November 2006, Pfizer told the BBC Radio Five Wake Up To The Money programme that the firm was taking the issue of counterfeit pharmaceuticals seriously and urged increased efforts to deal with this problem