Call for TGA to test online drugs

Date: 11 June 2010

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) president Warwick Plunkett has called on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to purchase and test medicines sold online.

The call came after the results of a Korean trial found counterfeit erectile dysfunction (ED) medications sold online contained potentially fatal mixtures of toxic materials.

Speaking to Pharmacy eNews, Mr Plunkett said the market for counterfeit drugs was relatively unknown, but suggested the TGA should be investigating the make up of drugs advertised through spam e-mail, from international sources.

“We get bombarded with offers for these drugs, mostly from Canada, but from other places too.

“The counterfeit drugs market is a big issue around the world, but we’re relatively unaware of it in Australia.

“Maybe the TGA should be buying the odd product online and testing it to check the safety of these products [advertised online],” he said.

The study, presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association last month, found counterfeit drugs posed significant health risks.

Researchers noted the majority of samples tested contained excessive amounts of the active ingredient – in some cases 2.4 times the amount in Viagra or Cialis – while others had no active ingredient at all.

Of the 19 drugs tested as part of the study, 20 per cent contained mercury, while another had lead in it, with just one containing “proper active ingredients including sildenafil and tadalafil”, the researchers said..

A PSA spokesman told Pharmacy eNews that while most Australian online pharmacies were “very reputable” he warned against purchasing from overseas web based stores.

“We say unless you’re very sure of who they are don’t go near them,” he said.

Source: http://www.pharmacynews.com.au/article/call-for-tga-to-test-online-drugs/518756.aspx