COUNTERFEIT DRUG MARKET

Counterfeit Drug Market

Counterfeit Drug Market

Counterfeit/Fake Drug Market

Overview of Counterfeit/Fake Drug

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines counterfeit drugs as those included in the labeling, deliberately and fraudulently false information about their identity or source (Andersson, 2007,, 197).

The casuistry of counterfeit drugs is very diverse: they can contain the corresponding active ingredient, but in quantity, potency or purity inadequate, but also may contain toxic or replace the active ingredient by a cheaper, less active, or may not contain active substance at all. Sometimes the most important risks come from the excipients employed in its manufacture, which may be adulterated or may not be of adequate quality (Andersson, 2007,, 197).

Counterfeiting of medicines is a relatively new phenomenon in the recent decades has increased and spread globally and affecting both brand name drugs and generic. Counterfeiting of medicines is a very lucrative business because of the intense and constant demand for drugs by the population and the low cost of production of counterfeits.

The rapid growth of this market is seen, for example, the report of the European Commission 2006 on customs interventions product forged, in which the interventions of counterfeit medicines in the EU (EU) during 2006 increased by 384% over 2005, products represent a major increase in that period. Regarding the sales, the volume of counterfeit drugs can reach worldwide, although it is difficult to obtain precise figures. WHO estimates that trading of illegal drug can represent 10% of the global medicines market.

The Centre for Medicines in the Public Interest, United States, expected to

2010 the total value of sales of counterfeit drugs worldwide amount to 75,000 million, representing an increase of more 90% over 2005. Analyses of these data indicate that this market has a greater settlement in those countries where the system of monitoring and control pharmaceutical market is weaker. Poverty and lack of an official supply are the main factors that favor the creation of markets for counterfeit products. However, the industry of counterfeit medicines currently available is very sophisticated and therefore besides its market in countries development, with little regulatory framework, is now seeking insight into the developed country markets.

The nature and type of counterfeit drugs found in countries has developed a particular idiosyncrasy, very different countries via of development. In industrialized countries, the look or appearance of counterfeit medicines, their packaging is almost identical to the original medicines.

Available data indicate that a counterfeit drug are usually maintained into the illicit market, and only rarely has produced its entry in the legitimate distribution channels and marketing of drugs. However, in recent months, such drugs have been detected in several EU countries and Asian Countries especially India and Pakistan.

The Illegal Drugs Market

Production and distribution of drugs is now one of the fastest growing sectors of the criminal business, turned, in essence, a highly transnational industry. UN experts estimate the illegal and fake drug market turnover is approximately $ 400 billion, representing about 8% of the turnover of all international ...