
3 minute read
Ranking Insider
The most counterfeited drug groups in the world
1. Genitourinary system medications and sex hormones
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According to INTERPOL, counterfeit or unauthorized erectile dysfunction drugs accounted for approximately 40% of all products seized in 2022, following a global operation in 94 countries called “Pangaea XV”(1). These products, in addition to not complying with formal sanitary requirements (such as carrying the legend of the route of administration, for example), become poisonous and even deadly. One of the main causes of the massive counterfeiting of this drug is its great informal demand through the internet. Many people avoid visiting their doctors due to the shyness that such diseases can generate, so they go to online pharmacies or fraudulent distributors without regulation where they are not required to present a prescription.
2. Central Nervous System Drugs
Also known as Central Nervous System depressants, such drugs are made up of sedatives, tranquilizers, and hypnotic medications, such as muscle relaxants and anxiolytic medications. These drugs are designed to encourage neural processes, so they are used to treat anxiety, panic, stress reactions, and sleep disorders. According to the WHO, millions of people around the world suffer from a neurological disorder, for this reason, the high demand for drugs to combat such diseases has led to their illegal manufacture on a large scale.
3. Anti-infectives
These drugs include the categories of antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiparasitic. One of the biggest problems faced by the counterfeiting of this type of medicine is that it promotes antibacterial resistance, which, according to WHO data, by 2050 will be responsible for 10 million deaths per year in the world(2). In addition, counterfeit anti-infective medicines may be contaminated with heavy metals or other life-threatening materials.
4. Anticancer drugs
The counterfeiting of prescription drugs as cancer treatments has increased in recent years around the world; adulterated batches have been reported indicated to treat carcinomas, melanomas, lung cancer, breast cancer, among others. Among the most striking cases in the history of counterfeiting is the case of a man in China who collected empty containers of a cancer drug from hospital trash and refilled them with a solution of water and a variety of chemicals. These contaminated products were then shipped via the Middle East or North Africa to be sold to a European supply company(3).
5. Cardiovascular medications
Acetylsalicylic acid, popularly known as aspirin, is the most widely used drug not only for the prevention of myocardial infarction but also for its treatment since it reduces mortality if administered early during a heart attack(4). In general terms, counterfeiting of this and many other medicines occurs more frequently in developing countries because there is no effective sanitary regulation in manufacturing, transport, and storage. According to the Pan American Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are the deadliest in the world, claiming 17.3 million lives annually. It is estimated that by 2030 almost 23.6 million people may die from one of these conditions(5).
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References
1. INTERPOL (July 20, 2022), $11millioninillegaldrugsseizedafterglobalINTERPOLoperation. (Accessed 30 January 2023). Retrieved from: https:// www.interpol.int/es/Noticias-y-acontecimientos/Noticias/2022/11-millones-de-dolares-en-medicamentos-ilegales-incautados-tras-una-operacionmundial-de-INTERPOL
2. Rodriguez, H., National Geographic (Updated April 03, 2022). By2050antibioticresistancewillberesponsiblefor10milliondeathsannually.Accessed January 30, 2023). Retrieved from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com.es/ciencia/2050-resistencia-a-antibioticos-sera-responsable-10-millones-muertesanuales_18090
3. Campbell, A. Pharma (April 7, 2016). Dangersofdrugimportation:Acaseofcounterfeitcancerdrugs. Accessed January 30, 2023). Retrieved from: https://catalyst.phrma.org/dangers-of-drug-importation-a-case-of-counterfeit-cancer-drugs
4. Spanish Heart Foundation, Antiaggregants . Accessed January 30, 2023). Retrieved from: https://fundaciondelcorazon.com/informacion-parapacientes/tratamientos/antiagregantes.html
5. Pan American Health Organization. World Heart Day: Cardiovascular diseases cause 1.9 million deaths per year in the Americas. Accessed January 30, 2023). Retrieved from: https://www3.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7257:2012-dia-mundial-corazon-enfermedadescardiovasculares-causan-1-9-millones-muertes-ano-americas