Pharmaceutical Pfizer warns against counterfeit drugs

By Linda A. Johnson AP Business Writer Pfizer Inc. and a pharmacy standards group are teaming to warn consumers about the risks of counterfeit prescription medicines, which endanger the public and take money from both pharmacies and legitimate drugmakers. Pfizer Inc., whose impotence pill Viagra is widely counterfeited, and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy last week announced the start of an educational campaign to explain the dangers of counterfeit drugs and help people find legitimate pharmacies online. The effort includes a website called www.AWARERx.com, a video series on a new YouTube channel called www.youtube.com/ spotfakemeds, and takeovers of websites counterfeiters have previously used to sell knock-offs of Pfizer medicines. Counterfeit drugs can be very dangerous, containing toxic substances such as rat poison or lead, or they can have the wrong amount of the real drug's active ingredient. In addition, people who buy medicines from illegal online pharmacies risk financial fraud and identity theft if they provide credit card or other personal information. New York-based Pfizer said counterfeit versions of Viagra have been sold in at least 101 countries. Pfizer and the pharmacy association estimated that worldwide sales of counterfeit medicines topped $75 billion last year, up 90 percent since 2005. Meanwhile, one in six Americans bought medicines on the Internet last year. Among other advice, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urges consumers to check Internet pharmacy sites for a seal indicating they are licensed pharmacies and sell approved medicines. The blue, oval-shaped seal reads "National Association Boards of Pharmacy," around the red letters VIPPS, short for Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites. A list of sites with that accreditation is at www.VIPPSpharmacies.net. Published: Tue, Oct 4, 2011