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Counterfeit Cancer Medicines Increase
Counterfeit Avastin that surfaced this past year grabbed headlines; however, it was just one example of the rise of counterfeit cancer drugs. Counterfeit versions of costly cancer drugs are appearing in increasing numbers in Asia and the Middle East in recent years and occasionally in Europe and the U.S. Counterfeit cancer drugs are targeted because of the big profits to be made.
Many counterfeit cancer drugs seized in recent years were produced in China. Some counterfeit drugs have contained starch, salt, cleaning solvents, and other chemicals and none of the genuine drug's active ingredient; some counterfeits do contain some of the active drug in varying amounts. The counterfeit Avastin found in the U.S. is just a small part of the global trafficking in counterfeit cancer drugs. In the Chinese city of Guangzou, a police raid last year netted 23 million tablets of a variety of counterfeit drugs, including tamoxifen. Other drugs have included Gleevec and Casodex.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323320404578211492452353034.html
New Drug Approvals Hit 39 in 2012
The FDA approved 39 new drugs in 2012, the most in 16 years, suggesting that pharmaceutical makers are poised for growth after losing billions of dollars in recent years to generic drug makers because of patent expirations. This is the most approvals since 1996 when 53 so-called new-molecular entities obtained approval.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/31/us-pharmaceuticals-fda-approvals-idUSBRE8BU0EK20121231
Drug Shortage and Relapses in Young Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients
A national study has connected higher rates of relapse in pediatric cancer patients to drug shortages, providing the first example of patients hurt by shortages. An estimated two-year, cancer-free survival for patients enrolled in the study fell from 88% to 75% after the drug cyclophosphamide was substituted for mechlorethamine for treatment of patients with intermediate- or high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma.
http://www.fiercepharma.com/press-releases/drug-shortage-linked-greater-risk-relapse-young-hodgkin-lymphoma-patients?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal
German Doctors to Do Prison Time for Kickbacks?
Germany's state-backed insurers are demanding prison sentences of up to three years for doctors who accept bribes or other gratuities. Currently, independent doctors who run their own practices can't be penalized, according to a ruling by the Federal Court of Justice in June 2012. Up to this time, prosecutors had spent years investigating doctors and employees of a German pharmaceutical company where doctors were allegedly paid to prescribe the company's drugs.
http://www.dw.de/demands-to-punish-corrupt-doctors/a-16493639
Meningitis-linked NECC Pharmacy Files for Bankruptcy
The New England Compounding Center, linked to a deadly U.S. meningitis outbreak, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and said it would establish a fund to compensate victims. To date, according to the CDCP, 39 people have died and more than 600 have been injured.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/22/us-usa-health-meningitis-necc-idUSBRE8BK19H20121222
Meningitis-linked Ameridose Closure Extended 6 Weeks in Meningitis Probe
Ameridose, a firm with the same owners as NECC, will remain shuttered while a joint investigation by state and federal authorities continues into "unsanitary conditions and questionable sterility practices at the facility."
A November report by federal inspectors detailed 15 problems found at Ameridose ranging from insufficient testing of the sterility and potency of the drugs it made to the presence of vermin in an area where sterile products were packaged and stored.
http://bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2013/01/03/closure-ameridose-westborough-drug-company-extended-weeks-meningitis-probe/AGx5d7MUh7s5oJphxxHgXK/story.html
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