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Doan DA, Vu NH, Nguyen PL, Nguyen AD, Dinh DX. Purchasing medicines and functional foods on the internet: a cross-sectional study investigating the knowledge, attitudes, and experience of Vietnamese people in 2023. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:2619. [PMID: 39333950 PMCID: PMC11438113 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20103-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate Vietnamese people's knowledge, attitudes, and experience in purchasing medicines and functional foods online. METHODS Via an online survey, the data of 1,070 participants were collected, including their general characteristics, Internet use, previous experience, knowledge, and attitudes towards purchasing medicines/functional foods online. Factors associated with their knowledge and attitudes were identified via multivariate linear regression models. RESULTS During 2022-2023, about 97.2% of participants used the Internet to seek health information (self-diagnosis: 65.0%, self-medication: 72.6%). Roughly 52.8% bought medicines and/or functional foods online. Among 565 buyers, 41.8% felt satisfied. Only 19.9% understood that selling medicines online was illegal in Vietnam. The main benefits of purchasing medicines/functional foods online that many people agreed on included convenience (87.1%), freedom from location (84.8%), and being able to order/buy products after opening hours (84.7%). Many people felt worried about the ability to buy counterfeit or substandard products (87.7%), inaccurate product information (85.0%), the lack of supervision of the authorities (83.7%), and increasing risks of drug abuse, self-medication, and treatment non-adherence (82.5%). Roughly 84.3% found distinguishing between legal and illegal online pharmacies difficult. Participants' average knowledge and attitude scores were 6.514 ± 2.461 (range: 0-16) and 89.330 ± 13.720 (range: 23-115), respectively. The main factors associated with people's knowledge and attitudes towards purchasing these products online included their frequency of Internet use, seeking health information online for self-medication, feeling satisfied with previous experience, and having at least one chronic disease. CONCLUSIONS Many Vietnamese people's knowledge about purchasing medicines/functional foods online was limited. With the increasing need for online shopping, enhancing their knowledge is paramount. In the forthcoming years, when the Ministry of Health and relevant authorities publish legal documents and enact laws involving online pharmacies and trading medicines on the Internet, ways to recognize licensed online pharmacies must be widely propagated and disseminated in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dung Anh Doan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Phenikaa University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Nhung Hong Vu
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Management and Economics, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | - An Duc Nguyen
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Management and Economics, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Dai Xuan Dinh
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Management and Economics, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Feeney AJ, Goad JA, Flaherty GT. Global perspective of the risks of falsified and counterfeit medicines: A critical review of the literature. Travel Med Infect Dis 2024; 61:102758. [PMID: 39218049 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2024.102758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increasing prevalence of falsified and counterfeit medicines globally poses risks to international travellers. This narrative literature review examines the global challenge of falsified and counterfeit medicines, with a specific focus on risks for travellers. The aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of this multidimensional issue, exploring potential solutions for effective intervention. METHODS A comprehensive search of databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus, as well as relevant reports from international organisations, was undertaken. There was a focus on extracting information pertaining to the prevalence, types, and geographical patterns of falsified and counterfeit medicines encountered by international travellers. Synthesising this information helped to identify overarching trends and patterns. This narrative review utilised a thematic analysis approach to synthesise the findings. RESULTS The findings revealed a diverse range of counterfeit drug categories, spanning from antibiotics to lifestyle medications, posing unique risks to travellers navigating the global pharmaceutical landscape. The review emphasises the geographical distribution of these drugs, with varying consequences for both high- and low-income nations. The inadequate formulations and inconsistent drug release arising from these practices pose severe threats to public health, especially for individuals travelling abroad. The review also highlights the significance of international collaboration in addressing this global challenge, as pharmaceutical supply chains seamlessly cross borders, necessitating a collaborative approach for effective regulation and enforcement. CONCLUSIONS This review underscores the need for targeted research, collaborative interventions, and technological innovations to address the complexities associated with falsified and counterfeit medicines, ensuring the safety and well-being of international travellers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aonghus J Feeney
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | | | - Gerard T Flaherty
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
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Huhmann BA, Limbu YB. Fair Balance of Prescription Drug Information on Legitimate and Illegitimate Online Pharmacy Websites. PHARMACY 2024; 12:67. [PMID: 38668093 PMCID: PMC11054229 DOI: 10.3390/pharmacy12020067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients require important information when prescribed medications. For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that promotional information includes a fair balance of risks and benefits. This study evaluates how well legitimate online pharmacies (LOPs) and illegitimate online pharmacies (IOPs) comply with the spirit of the FDA's fair balance guidelines by examining the extent and equivalence of risk and benefit information on their websites. This study analyzed the content of 307 online pharmacy websites. Most (90.3%) communicated drug benefits, while 84.7% provided risks. Both risk and benefit information was moderately extensive. Presentation of risks and benefits differed between online pharmacy types. Compared to LOPs, IOPs were more likely to present risk information but also exaggerate benefits. Four in ten online pharmacies presented a fair balance of risks and benefits. However, LOPs (47.4%) were more likely to present a fair balance than IOPs (36.5%). Interestingly, IOPs were more likely to disclose instructions for use and overdose information than LOPs. These findings underscore the need for regulatory guidelines to encourage online pharmacies to present a fair balance of benefit and risk information. Also, pharmacists should develop online approaches to better fulfill their professional responsibility as drug information providers while maintaining their integrity and objectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce A. Huhmann
- Department of Marketing, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
| | - Yam B. Limbu
- Department of Marketing, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA;
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Fischler B, Mandato C, Vajro P. The debate on paracetamol hepatotoxicity continues. Acta Paediatr 2024; 113:15-18. [PMID: 37818991 DOI: 10.1111/apa.16992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Björn Fischler
- Department of Pediatrics, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Claudia Mandato
- Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria "Scuola Medica Salernitana", Section of Pediatrics, Baronissi (Salerno), Italy
| | - Pietro Vajro
- Dipartimento di Medicina, Chirurgia e Odontoiatria "Scuola Medica Salernitana", Section of Pediatrics, Baronissi (Salerno), Italy
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García-López L, Peris-Vicente J, Bose D, Durgbanshi A, Carda-Broch S. Micellar liquid chromatography as a sustainable tool to quantify three statins in oral solid dosage forms. J Chromatogr A 2023; 1698:464000. [PMID: 37086546 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.464000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
A method based on micellar liquid chromatography has been developed to determine rosuvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin in oral solid dosage forms. Samples were solved in mobile phase up to the target concentration, filtered and directly injected. The three statins were resolved in 30 min, using an aqueous solution of 0.10 M sodium dodecyl sulfate - 7.0% 1-butanol, buffered at pH 3 with 0.01 M phosphate salt as mobile phase, running under isocratic mode at 1 mL/min through a C18 column. Detection was at 240 nm. The effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on elution strength was more important than that of the organic solvent. The procedure was successfully validated by the guidelines of the International Council for Harmonization in terms of: specificity, linearity (r2 > 0.990), calibration range (1.5 - 15 mg/L for rosuvastatin, 0.5-10 mg/L for lovastatin and simvastatin), limit of detection (0.4, 0.2 and 0.15 mg/L for rosuvastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin, respectively), trueness (98.8-101.7%), precision (<2.7%), carry-over effect, robustness, and stability. Values were inside the acceptance criteria of the Methods, Method Verification and Validation, Food and Drug Administration-Office of Regulatory Affairs, thus ensuring the reliability of the results. The main feature was the low proportion of organic solvent used, thus making the procedure sustainable and green. Besides, it was easy-to-conduct and with high sample-throughput, and then useful for routine analysis in pharmaceutical quality control. Finally, it was applied to commercial pharmaceutical preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia García-López
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Juan Peris-Vicente
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.
| | - Devasish Bose
- Department of Criminology and Forensic Science, Doctor Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya Pradesh 470003, India
| | - Abhilasha Durgbanshi
- Department of Chemistry, Doctor Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar, Madhya Pradesh 470003, India
| | - Samuel Carda-Broch
- Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, ESTCE, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
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Shergill RS, Farlow A, Perez F, Patel BA. 3D-printed electrochemical pestle and mortar for identification of falsified pharmaceutical tablets. Mikrochim Acta 2022; 189:100. [DOI: 10.1007/s00604-022-05202-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Detection of vitamin C in various falsified oral formulations using voltammetry. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2021.115903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Sansone A, Cuzin B, Jannini EA. Facing Counterfeit Medications in Sexual Medicine. A Systematic Scoping Review on Social Strategies and Technological Solutions. Sex Med 2021; 9:100437. [PMID: 34619517 PMCID: PMC8766274 DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The counterfeit phenomenon is a largely under-reported issue, with potentially large burden for healthcare. The market for counterfeit drugs used in sexual medicine, most notably type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE5i), is rapidly growing. Aims To report the health risks associated with the use of counterfeit medications, the reasons driving their use, and the strategies enacted to contain this phenomenon. Methods A systematic scoping review of the literature regarding counterfeit PDE5i was carried between January and June 2021, then updated in August 2021. Main Outcome Measure We primarily aimed to clarify the main drivers for counterfeit PDE5i use, the health risks associated, and the currently available strategies to fight counterfeiters. Results One hundred thirty-one records were considered for the present scoping review. Production of fake PDE5i is highly lucrative and the lacking awareness of the potential health risks makes it a largely exploitable market by counterfeiters. Adulteration with other drugs, microbial contamination and unreliable dosages make counterfeit medications a cause of worry also outside of the sexual medicine scope. Several laboratory techniques have been devised to identify and quantify the presence of other compounds in counterfeit medications. Strategies aimed at improving awareness, providing antitampering packaging and producing non-falsifiable products, such as the orodispersible formulations, are also described. Clinical implications Improving our understanding of the PDE5i counterfeit phenomenon can be helpful to promote awareness of this issue and to improve patient care. Strengths & Limitations Despite the systematic approach, few clinical studies were retrieved, and data concerning the prevalence of counterfeit PDE5i use is not available on a global scale. Conclusion The counterfeit phenomenon is a steadily growing issue, with PDE5i being the most counterfeited medication with potentially large harmful effects on unaware consumers. Sansone A, Cuzin B, and Jannini EA. Facing Counterfeit Medications in Sexual Medicine. A Systematic Scoping Review on Social Strategies and Technological Solutions. Sex Med 2021;9:100437.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Sansone
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Béatrice Cuzin
- Division of Urology and Transplantation, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France
| | - Emmanuele A Jannini
- Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
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Shukar S, Zahoor F, Hayat K, Saeed A, Gillani AH, Omer S, Hu S, Babar ZUD, Fang Y, Yang C. Drug Shortage: Causes, Impact, and Mitigation Strategies. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:693426. [PMID: 34305603 PMCID: PMC8299364 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.693426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug shortage is a global issue affecting low, middle, and high-income countries. Many countries have developed various strategies to overcome the problem, while the problem is accelerating, affecting the whole world. All types of drugs, such as essential life-saving drugs, oncology medicines, antimicrobial drugs, analgesics, opioids, cardiovascular drugs, radiopharmaceutical, and parenteral products, are liable to the shortage. Among all pharmaceutical dosage forms, sterile injectable products have a higher risk of shortage than other forms. The causes of shortage are multifactorial, including supply issues, demand issues, and regulatory issues. Supply issues consist of manufacturing problems, unavailability of raw materials, logistic problems, and business problems. In contrast, demand issues include just-in-time inventory, higher demand for a product, seasonal demand, and unpredictable demand. For regulatory issues, one important factor is the lack of a unified definition of drug shortage. Drug shortage affects all stakeholders from economic, clinical, and humanistic aspects. WHO established global mitigation strategies from four levels to overcome drug shortages globally. It includes a workaround to tackle the current shortage, operational improvements to reduce the shortage risk and achieve early warning, changes in governmental policies, and education and training of all health professionals about managing shortages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundus Shukar
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
| | - Fatima Zahoor
- Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Yusra Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Khezar Hayat
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Amna Saeed
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
| | - Ali Hassan Gillani
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
| | - Sumaira Omer
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
| | - Shuchen Hu
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
| | - Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
| | - Yu Fang
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
| | - Caijun Yang
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xian Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Centre for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, China’s Western Technological Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
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Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the scope of anorectics in counterfeit weight-reducing formulations and provides insight into the present state of research in determining such adulterants. Analytical techniques utilised in profiling adulterants found in slimming products, including limitations and mitigation steps of these conventional methods are also discussed. The current legal status of the anorectics and analogues routinely encountered in non-prescription slimming formulations is also explored.
Methods
All reviewed literature was extracted from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases using relevant search terms, such as, ‘counterfeit drugs’, ‘weight loss drugs’, ‘weight-reducing drugs’, ‘slimming drugs’, ‘anorectic agents’, and ‘counterfeit anorexics’. Legislation related to anorectics was obtained from the portals of various government and international agencies.
Results
Anorectics frequently profiled in counterfeit slimming formulations are mostly amphetamine derivatives or its analogues. Five routinely reported pharmacological classes of adulterants, namely anxiolytics, diuretics, antidepressants, laxatives, and stimulants, are mainly utilised as coadjuvants in fake weigh-reducing formulations to increase bioavailability or to minimise anticipated side effects. Liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric detectors are predominantly used techniques for anorectic analysis due to the possibility of obtaining detailed information of adulterants. However, interference from the complex sample matrices of these fake products limits the accuracy of these methods and requires robust sample preparation methods for enhanced sensitivity and selectivity. The most common anorectics found in counterfeit slimming medicines are either completely banned or available by prescription only, in many countries.
Conclusions
Slimming formulations doped with anorectic cocktails to boost their weight-reducing efficacy are not uncommon. Liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry remains the gold standard for counterfeit drug analysis, and requires improved preconcentration methods for rapid and quantitative identification of specific chemical constituents. Extensive method development and validation, targeted at refining existing techniques while developing new ones, is expected to improve the analytical profiling of counterfeit anorectics significantly.
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Bowman C, Family H, Agius-Muscat H, Cordina M, Sutton J. Consumer internet purchasing of medicines using a population sample: A mixed methodology approach. Res Social Adm Pharm 2019; 16:819-827. [PMID: 31668549 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2019.09.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malta has an average of 3-4 private community pharmacies per locality, providing patients with easy access to medicines yet according to general statistics gathered from European organisations, Internet is used to purchase various online products with medicines being amongst them. OBJECTIVES To identify patterns around internet purchasing of medicines among Maltese residents. METHODS The study followed a mixed methods approach, employing a cross-sectional survey followed by semi-structured interviews. A random sample of 1996 residents were selected from the Maltese electoral register to participate in a postal questionnaire designed to gather data about purchasing prescription-only-medicines (POM) as well as over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square to establish associations between responses. Five interviews investigated participants' concerns related to sourcing of medicines. The participants were purposively chosen from the questionnaire respondents. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS The survey had a 22% response rate (N = 444) (60% female; mean age 52 years ± 17). Two (0.45%) participants reported purchasing POMs online in the past, while 4.3% (n = 19) purchased OTCs including vitamins, supplements and herbal combinations. The main reasons for OTC online purchasing were lack of local availability (n = 6; 1.4%) and lower price (n = 11; 2.5%). A total of 89% (n = 395) of respondents provided a reason for not purchasing online, with safety issues being the primary reason for 41% (n = 181) of these. Interviewees expressed disregard towards internet purchasing of medicines that was evident from the themes that emerged: definition of 'medicines', health autonomy and trust in self-care, relationships and trust in health professional, restrictions of medicine supply, influence of cost, need for options. CONCLUSIONS The Maltese appear to be rather cautious and do not purchase POMs online, citing the risks that may be associated with internet purchasing. With regards to OTCs, a small percentage purchase these online and exposing them to risks associated with unauthorised sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne Bowman
- Medicines Use Research Group, Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Malta.
| | - Hannah Family
- Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Bath, UK
| | - Hugo Agius-Muscat
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Malta
| | - Maria Cordina
- Medicines Use Research Group, Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta, Malta
| | - Jane Sutton
- Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Bath, UK
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Ashames A, Bhandare R, Zain AlAbdin S, Alhalabi T, Jassem F. Public Perception toward E-commerce of Medicines and Comparative Pharmaceutical Quality Assessment Study of Two Different Products of Furosemide Tablets from Community and Illicit Online Pharmacies. JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND BIOALLIED SCIENCES 2019; 11:284-291. [PMID: 31555036 PMCID: PMC6662035 DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_66_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: E-commerce of medicines has been extensively spread worldwide. Many reasons influence consumers to purchase their medical needs through the Internet, including low cost, availability, accessibility, and time saving. However, most of these medicines are substandard and counterfeit. Aim: To assess the perception of people in the UAE about purchasing medicines from online sources and to evaluate the quality of furosemide tablets from two different sources including illegal online source. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 528 participants in the UAE. The questionnaire included three parts to assess the public perception and experience toward purchasing medicines from online sources. Furosemide tablets, purchased from the UAE market and an illegal online source, were physically and chemically studied to assess their quality according to the British Pharmacopoeia (2018). Results: The survey results revealed that less than 10% of participants have purchased their medicines from online sources and mostly they were nonprescription products (78%). Most common motives for online purchasing were either unavailability in the local pharmacies (43%) or lower cost compared to that in local market (43%). The opinion of participants toward purchasing of online medicines was negative. On the other hand, the experimental analysis showed that online furosemide had failed to pass the chemical assay test (91.0% ± 0.8), which makes it a substandard product. Conclusion: This study showed that few consumers had considered purchasing pharmaceutical products from online sources as a feasible way to save money and time. However, most of them were in doubt about their quality, which encourages health-care providers to guide patients to government-supported websites if required. The study also showed that the quality of online medicines is questionable, indicating that these products are not equally effective as the medicines purchased from a local pharmacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akram Ashames
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE
| | - Richie Bhandare
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE
| | - Sham Zain AlAbdin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE
| | - Tasnim Alhalabi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE
| | - Farah Jassem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE
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Jayaraman R, Salah K, King N. Improving Opportunities in Healthcare Supply Chain Processes via the Internet of Things and Blockchain Technology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND INFORMATICS 2019. [DOI: 10.4018/ijhisi.2019040104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Despite key advances in healthcare informatics and management, little progress to address supply chain process-related problems has been made to date. Specifically, key healthcare supply chain processes include product recalls, monitoring of product supply shortages, expiration, and counterfeits. Implementing and executing these processes in a trusted, secure, efficient, globally accessible and traceable manner is challenging due to the fragmented nature of the healthcare supply chain, which is prone to systemic errors and redundant efforts that may compromise patient safety and impact health outcomes adversely. Blockchain, combined with the Internet of things (IoT), is an emerging technology that can offer a practical solution to these challenges. Accordingly, IoT blockchain offers a superior way to track and trace products via a peer-to-peer distributed, secure, and shared ledger of the blockchain network. This article highlights key challenges related to healthcare supply chains, and illustrates how IoT blockchain technologies can play a role in overcoming these challenges now and in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raja Jayaraman
- Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Khaled Salah
- Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Nelson King
- Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Abu Dhabi, UAE
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Rahman MS, Yoshida N, Tsuboi H, Tomizu N, Endo J, Miyu O, Akimoto Y, Kimura K. The health consequences of falsified medicines- A study of the published literature. Trop Med Int Health 2018; 23:1294-1303. [PMID: 30291683 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To analyse and present the literature describing the health consequences of falsified medicines, focusing on mortality and morbidity, as well as the scale of the issue, the geographic extent, the medicines affected, and the harm caused at both the individual and population levels. METHODS We searched for articles in PubMed, using pre-optimized keywords '(counterfeit OR fake OR bogus OR falsified OR spurious) AND (medicine OR drug)'. Searches up to February 2017 yielded 2006 hits, of which 1791 were full-length articles in English. Among them, we found 81 papers that qualitatively or quantitatively described 48 incidents in which falsified medicines caused patients to suffer serious adverse effects, injury, symptoms or death. RESULTS The distribution of incidents was examined according to the economic status of the countries involved, regional location in the world, therapeutic category of the medicines, number of incidents and victims by year, and characteristics of the falsified medicines. Among the 48 reported incidents, 27 (56.3%) occurred in developing countries and 21 (43.7%) in developed countries. These incidents involved a total of approximately 7200 casualties including 3604 deaths. CONCLUSIONS Despite the poor quality of much of the reported data, the results of this study indicate that all types of medications have been targeted for falsification, and falsified medicines have had a serious impact on the health of both adults and children worldwide, with similar numbers of incidents in developing and developed countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sofiqur Rahman
- Medi-Quality Security Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.,Department of Pharmacy, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka, Bangladesh.,Department of Drug Management & Policy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Naoko Yoshida
- Department of Drug Management & Policy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Hirohito Tsuboi
- Department of Drug Management & Policy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Naoki Tomizu
- Department of Drug Management & Policy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Jamie Endo
- Department of Drug Management & Policy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Onishi Miyu
- Department of Drug Management & Policy, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yoshio Akimoto
- Medi-Quality Security Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kazuko Kimura
- Medi-Quality Security Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
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Lawson G, Ogwu J, Tanna S. Quantitative screening of the pharmaceutical ingredient for the rapid identification of substandard and falsified medicines using reflectance infrared spectroscopy. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202059. [PMID: 30096202 PMCID: PMC6086453 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization suggests that approximately 10% of medicines worldwide are either falsified or substandard with higher figures in low and middle income countries. Such poor quality medicines can seriously harm patients and pose a threat to the economy worldwide. This study investigates attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy as a simple and rapid method for determination of drug content in tablet dosage forms. Paracetamol was used as the model pharmaceutical ingredient. Spectra of standard mixtures of paracetamol with different excipients formed the basis for multivariate PLS based quantitative analysis of simulated tablet content using different selected infrared absorbance bands. Calibration methods using ATR-FTIR were compared with the ATR-FTIR and conventional ultraviolet spectroscopic analyses of real tablet samples and showed that the paracetamol/microcrystalline cellulose mixtures gave optimum results for all spectral bands tested. The quantitative data for band 1524-1493cm-1 was linear (R2 ˃ 0.98; LOQ ≥ 10%w/w tablet). Global examples of paracetamol tablets were tested using this protocol and 12% of the tablet samples examined was identified as substandard. Each sample analysis was completed in just a few minutes. ATR-FTIR can therefore be used in the rapid screening of tablet formulations. The simplicity of the proposed method makes it appropriate for use in low and middle income countries where analytical facilities are not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Lawson
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - John Ogwu
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Sangeeta Tanna
- Leicester School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom
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Cotter G, Davison BA. Unmodifiable events, heart failure research, and ‘risk‐based monitoring’ in large studies—the unholy triumvirate. Eur J Heart Fail 2018; 20:1639-1644. [DOI: 10.1002/ejhf.1282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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Paul P, Sänger-van de Griend C, Adams E, Van Schepdael A. Recent advances in the capillary electrophoresis analysis of antibiotics with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2018; 158:405-415. [PMID: 29940496 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2018.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
This review describes briefly the high rate of counterfeiting of antimicrobial drugs with focus upon its immediate health consequences. The major part of this review encompasses accounts of the improvements achieved in the domain of miniaturization of capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CE-C4D). The application of this principle into the development of portable devices as well as its application to counter the health-system-crippling phenomenon of counterfeit antibiotic formulations, are discussed in the context of developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prasanta Paul
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, O&N2, PB 923, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Cari Sänger-van de Griend
- Department of Medicinal chemistry, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, Uppsala, 751 23, Sweden; Kantisto BV, Callenburglaan 22, Baarn, 3742 MV, The Netherlands
| | - Erwin Adams
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, O&N2, PB 923, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Ann Van Schepdael
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, O&N2, PB 923, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
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Venhuis BJ, Oostlander AE, Giorgio DD, Mosimann R, du Plessis I. Oncology drugs in the crosshairs of pharmaceutical crime. Lancet Oncol 2018; 19:e209-e217. [DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(18)30101-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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WŁodarczak U, Swieczkowski D, Religioni U, Jaguszewski M, Krysinski J, Merks P. Awareness of the implementation of the Falsified Medicines Directive among pharmaceutical companies' professionals in the European Economic Area. Pharm Pract (Granada) 2017; 15:1031. [PMID: 29317918 PMCID: PMC5741995 DOI: 10.18549/pharmpract.2017.04.1031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) is a response of the European Union to the increasing number of falsified medicines present in the legal supply chain within the Member States of the community. Effective implementation of the new regulations will depend on the effective cooperation of all parties involved in the distribution of medicinal products including the managers of pharmaceutical companies. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to examine awareness of the Implementation of the FMD among pharmaceutical company professionals in the European Economic Area. METHODS Sampling was conducted using a method called purposive sampling. An appropriate research tool in the form of an original questionnaire was made available to the respondents in electronic form. During the period from January 2016 to June 2016, 1,496 e-mail messages were sent. The response rate was 17.37%. RESULTS The study included 99 women (39.3%) and 153 men (60.7%). In the study group, 95.7% of people had heard of FMD. Doctors had rarely heard about the falsified medicine directive when compared to pharmacists (p=0.0063), people working in the pharmaceutical industry (p=0.0014), and respondents with a different professional profile (p=0.0114). In the study group, 89.6% of people were aware of the role of National Medicines Verification Organization in the process of implementing the provisions of FMD into the national system of distribution of medicinal products. The number of the respondents who knew the deadline for the implementation of FMD was significantly higher in the study population, i.e. 91.9% (p=0.0001). Both the younger respondents and those with lower level of education were less aware of the time requirements posed to national regulators (p=0.0003, p=0.0023, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Awareness of the regulations related to the implementation of the FMD, although relatively high among pharmaceutical company professionals in the EEA, is still insufficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula WŁodarczak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus University in Torun. Torun (Poland).
| | - Damian Swieczkowski
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Gdansk. Gdansk (Poland).
| | - Urszula Religioni
- Collegium of Socio-Economics, Warsaw School of Economics. Warsaw (Poland).
| | - Milosz Jaguszewski
- First Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Gdansk. Gdansk (Poland).
| | - Jerzy Krysinski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus University in Torun. Torun (Poland).
| | - Piotr Merks
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus University in Torun. Torun (Poland).
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Gaudiano MC, Borioni A, Antoniella E, Valvo L. Counterfeit Adderall Containing Aceclofenac from Internet Pharmacies. J Forensic Sci 2016; 61:1126-1130. [PMID: 27364297 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A nontargeted approach based on liquid chromatography equipped with a quadrupole time-of-flight mass detector (LC-MS Q-TOF) joined to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis allowed rapid identification and quantification of the anti-inflammatory drug aceclofenac in illegal Adderall tablets. The largest chromatographic peak had m/z = 354.030 and m/z = 376.012 matching, respectively, the ionic structures (M + H)+ and (M + Na)+ of a molecule M. The accurate mass data generated the molecular formula C16 H13 Cl2 NO4 . A screening of the pharmaceutical active substances having that molecular formula together with the MS/MS fragmentation pattern suggested aceclofenac. Aceclofenac structure was unambiguously confirmed by 1 H and 13 C NMR experiments. The aceclofenac content was 90 mg/tablet (RSD 2%) as detected by quantitative NMR. Information on the identity and content of illegal drugs is required for legal purposes; it supports in evaluating the effective impact on users safety, and it is useful for control laboratories using a targeted approach in their analytical activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Gaudiano
- Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Borioni
- Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Antoniella
- Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Valvo
- Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
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Custers D, Krakowska B, De Beer JO, Courselle P, Daszykowski M, Apers S, Deconinck E. Testing of complementarity of PDA and MS detectors using chromatographic fingerprinting of genuine and counterfeit samples containing sildenafil citrate. Anal Bioanal Chem 2016; 408:1643-56. [PMID: 26753972 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-9275-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Counterfeit medicines are a global threat to public health. High amounts enter the European market, which is why characterization of these products is a very important issue. In this study, a high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array (HPLC-PDA) and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) method were developed for the analysis of genuine Viagra®, generic products of Viagra®, and counterfeit samples in order to obtain different types of fingerprints. These data were included in the chemometric data analysis, aiming to test whether PDA and MS are complementary detection techniques. The MS data comprise both MS1 and MS2 fingerprints; the PDA data consist of fingerprints measured at three different wavelengths, i.e., 254, 270, and 290 nm, and all possible combinations of these wavelengths. First, it was verified if both groups of fingerprints can discriminate between genuine, generic, and counterfeit medicines separately; next, it was studied if the obtained results could be ameliorated by combining both fingerprint types. This data analysis showed that MS1 does not provide suitable classification models since several genuines and generics are classified as counterfeits and vice versa. However, when analyzing the MS1_MS2 data in combination with partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), a perfect discrimination was obtained. When only using data measured at 254 nm, good classification models can be obtained by k nearest neighbors (kNN) and soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA), which might be interesting for the characterization of counterfeit drugs in developing countries. However, in general, the combination of PDA and MS data (254 nm_MS1) is preferred due to less classification errors between the genuines/generics and counterfeits compared to PDA and MS data separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Custers
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal Products, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
- Research group NatuRA (Natural products and Food - Research and Analysis), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Barbara Krakowska
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Silesia, 9 Szkolna Street, 40-006, Katowice, Poland
| | - Jacques O De Beer
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal Products, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Patricia Courselle
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal Products, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Michal Daszykowski
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Silesia, 9 Szkolna Street, 40-006, Katowice, Poland
| | - Sandra Apers
- Research group NatuRA (Natural products and Food - Research and Analysis), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Eric Deconinck
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal Products, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
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22
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Chromatographic impurity fingerprinting of genuine and counterfeit Cialis® as a means to compare the discriminating ability of PDA and MS detection. Talanta 2016; 146:540-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Revised: 09/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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23
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Yoshida N, Numano M, Nagasaka Y, Ueda K, Tsuboi H, Tanimoto T, Kimura K. Study on health hazards through medicines purchased on the Internet: a cross-sectional investigation of the quality of anti-obesity medicines containing crude drugs as active ingredients. Altern Ther Health Med 2015; 15:430. [PMID: 26637485 PMCID: PMC4670516 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-015-0955-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background Weight-loss medicines, including crude drugs and herbal supplements disguised as diet-aid products, are readily obtainable and distributed widely, especially in Southeast Asia. Even if such products are unapproved or prescription-only medicines, consumers can purchase them through an agency or directly on the Internet. We evaluated the quality and safety of herbal products purchased on the Internet to reveal their influence on public health. Methods Diet-aid products containing Bukuryo (Poria sclerotium), Bakumondo (Ophiopogonis tuber), or Daio (rhubarb rhizome) were purchased through websites that did not provide physical addresses or which advertised misleading medicines (e.g., unapproved Cialis 100 mg tablets, Viagra 100 mg tablets) on websites. We carefully noted details in the descriptions on package inserts or accompanying product characteristics and analyzed the ingredients using qualitative and quantitative methods, namely high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a photodiode array detector. We requested the respective manufacturers to authenticate their products through a structured questionnaire. Results We purchased 15 items from 15 Internet sites and imported all 15 items to Japan. One item stated to contain rhubarb rhizome was identified as a prescription medicine; the others were dietary supplements and not medicines. Even though we did not analyze the constituents of all crude drugs, we found some active ingredients in the items. Sibutramine was detected in items confirmed to be supplements, including those containing Poria sclerotium and Ophiopogonis tuber. Each capsule contained ≈ 12 mg of sibutramine, which is the daily dose for anti-obesity medicines. Sibutramine is not approved for use in Japan and its sale has been suspended in Europe and the USA owing to serious adverse effects on the circulatory system. Conclusions Our findings indicate that dietary supplements containing injurious ingredients are distributed to Japanese consumers and potentially to a broader international audience, and that purchasing them through unreliable websites bears potential health risks. To avoid potential adverse events, there should be adequate alerts about the risks of taking products without appropriate indications.
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Custers D, Cauwenbergh T, Bothy J, Courselle P, De Beer J, Apers S, Deconinck E. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemometrics: An interesting tool to discriminate and characterize counterfeit medicines. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2015; 112:181-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2014.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Custers D, Vandemoortele S, Bothy J, De Beer JO, Courselle P, Apers S, Deconinck E. Physical profiling and IR spectroscopy: simple and effective methods to discriminate between genuine and counterfeit samples of Viagra® and Cialis®. Drug Test Anal 2015; 8:378-87. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.1813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Custers
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal ProductsScientific Institute of Public Health (WIV‐ISP) J. Wytsmanstraat 14 B‐1050 Brussels Belgium
- Research Group NatuRA (Natural products and Food ‐ Research and Analysis), Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1 B‐2610 Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Suzanne Vandemoortele
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal ProductsScientific Institute of Public Health (WIV‐ISP) J. Wytsmanstraat 14 B‐1050 Brussels Belgium
| | - Jean‐Luc Bothy
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal ProductsScientific Institute of Public Health (WIV‐ISP) J. Wytsmanstraat 14 B‐1050 Brussels Belgium
| | - Jacques O. De Beer
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal ProductsScientific Institute of Public Health (WIV‐ISP) J. Wytsmanstraat 14 B‐1050 Brussels Belgium
| | - Patricia Courselle
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal ProductsScientific Institute of Public Health (WIV‐ISP) J. Wytsmanstraat 14 B‐1050 Brussels Belgium
| | - Sandra Apers
- Research Group NatuRA (Natural products and Food ‐ Research and Analysis), Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1 B‐2610 Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Eric Deconinck
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal ProductsScientific Institute of Public Health (WIV‐ISP) J. Wytsmanstraat 14 B‐1050 Brussels Belgium
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26
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Pullirsch D, Bellemare J, Hackl A, Trottier YL, Mayrhofer A, Schindl H, Taillon C, Gartner C, Hottowy B, Beck G, Gagnon J. Microbiological contamination in counterfeit and unapproved drugs. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2014; 15:34. [PMID: 24965483 PMCID: PMC4088308 DOI: 10.1186/2050-6511-15-34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Counterfeit and unapproved medicines are inherently dangerous and can cause patient injury due to ineffectiveness, chemical or biological contamination, or wrong dosage. Growth of the counterfeit medical market in developed countries is mainly attributable to life-style drugs, which are used in the treatment of non-life-threatening and non-painful conditions, such as slimming pills, cosmetic-related pharmaceuticals, and drugs for sexual enhancement. One of the main tasks of health authorities is to identify the exact active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in confiscated drugs, because wrong API compounds, wrong concentrations, and/or the presence of chemical contaminants are the main risks associated with counterfeit medicines. Serious danger may also arise from microbiological contamination. We therefore performed a market surveillance study focused on the microbial burden in counterfeit and unapproved medicines. Methods Counterfeit and unapproved medicines confiscated in Canada and Austria and controls from the legal market were examined for microbial contaminations according to the US and European pharmacopoeia guidelines. The microbiological load of illegal and legitimate samples was statistically compared with the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results Microbial cultivable contaminations in counterfeit and unapproved phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors were significantly higher than in products from the legal medicines market (p < 0.0001). Contamination levels exceeding the USP and EP limits were seen in 23% of the tested illegal samples in Canada. Additionally, microbiological contaminations above the pharmacopoeial limits were detected in an anabolic steroid and an herbal medicinal product in Austria (6% of illegal products tested). Conclusions Our results show that counterfeit and unapproved pharmaceuticals are not manufactured under the same hygienic conditions as legitimate products. The microbiological contamination of illegal medicinal products often exceeds USP and EP limits, representing a potential threat to consumer health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Pullirsch
- AGES - Austrian Agency for Health & Food Safety, Austrian Medicines and Medical Devices Agency, Traisengasse 5, Vienna AT-1200, Austria.
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Fincham JE. Ongoing and burgeoning problem of global access to prescription-only medications illegally obtained via the Internet. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE 2014; 22:167-8. [DOI: 10.1111/ijpp.12110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Fincham JE. Counterfeit medications and their negative impacts on health care. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION 2014; 78:48. [PMID: 24761009 PMCID: PMC3996380 DOI: 10.5688/ajpe78348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jack E Fincham
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
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Dose-to-dose variations with single packages of counterfeit medicines and adulterated dietary supplements as a potential source of false negatives and inaccurate health risk assessments. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2014; 89:158-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2013.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2013] [Revised: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Custers D, Canfyn M, Courselle P, De Beer JO, Apers S, Deconinck E. Headspace-gas chromatographic fingerprints to discriminate and classify counterfeit medicines. Talanta 2014; 123:78-88. [PMID: 24725867 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2014.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2013] [Revised: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Counterfeit medicines are a global threat to public health. These pharmaceuticals are not subjected to quality control and therefore their safety, quality and efficacy cannot be guaranteed. Today, the safety evaluation of counterfeit medicines is mainly based on the identification and quantification of the active substances present. However, the analysis of potential toxic secondary components, like residual solvents, becomes more important. Assessment of residual solvent content and chemometric analysis of fingerprints might be useful in the discrimination between genuine and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Moreover, the fingerprint approach might also contribute in the evaluation of the health risks different types of counterfeit medicines pose. In this study a number of genuine and counterfeit Viagra(®) and Cialis(®) samples were analyzed for residual solvent content using headspace-GC-MS. The obtained chromatograms were used as fingerprints and analyzed using different chemometric techniques: Principal Component Analysis, Projection Pursuit, Classification and Regression Trees and Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogy. It was tested whether these techniques can distinguish genuine pharmaceuticals from counterfeit ones and if distinct types of counterfeits could be differentiated based on health risks. This chemometric analysis showed that for both data sets PCA clearly discriminated between genuine and counterfeit drugs, and SIMCA generated the best predictive models. This technique not only resulted in a 100% correct classification rate for the discrimination between genuine and counterfeit medicines, the classification of the counterfeit samples was also superior compared to CART. This study shows that chemometric analysis of headspace-GC impurity fingerprints allows to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit medicines and to differentiate between groups of counterfeit products based on the public health risks they pose.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Custers
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal Products, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - M Canfyn
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal Products, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - P Courselle
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal Products, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - J O De Beer
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal Products, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - S Apers
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - E Deconinck
- Division of Food, Medicines and Consumer Safety, Section Medicinal Products, Scientific Institute of Public Health (WIV-ISP), J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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Jaberidoost M, Nikfar S, Abdollahiasl A, Dinarvand R. Pharmaceutical supply chain risks: a systematic review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 21:69. [PMID: 24355166 PMCID: PMC3913399 DOI: 10.1186/2008-2231-21-69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 08/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Supply of medicine as a strategic product in any health system is a top priority. Pharmaceutical companies, a major player of the drug supply chain, are subject to many risks. These risks disrupt the supply of medicine in many ways such as their quantity and quality and their delivery to the right place and customers and at the right time. Therefore risk identification in the supply process of pharmaceutical companies and mitigate them is highly recommended. Objective In this study it is attempted to investigate pharmaceutical supply chain risks with perspective of manufacturing companies. Methods Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science bibliographic databases and Google scholar scientific search engines were searched for pharmaceutical supply chain risk management studies with 6 different groups of keywords. All results found by keywords were reviewed and none-relevant articles were excluded by outcome of interests and researcher boundaries of study within 4 steps and through a systematic method. Results Nine articles were included in the systematic review and totally 50 main risks based on study outcome of interest extracted which classified in 7 categories. Most of reported risks were related to supply and supplier issues. Organization and strategy issues, financial, logistic, political, market and regulatory issues were in next level of importance. Conclusion It was shown that the majority of risks in pharmaceutical supply chain were internal risks due to processes, people and functions mismanagement which could be managed by suitable mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rassoul Dinarvand
- Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Pharmaceutical administration, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran.
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Fincham J. Medication insecurity and the need for more involvement. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION 2013; 77:161. [PMID: 24159202 PMCID: PMC3806945 DOI: 10.5688/ajpe778161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jack Fincham
- The University of Missouri Kansas City, School of Pharmacy
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Fittler A, Bősze G, Botz L. Evaluating aspects of online medication safety in long-term follow-up of 136 Internet pharmacies: illegal rogue online pharmacies flourish and are long-lived. J Med Internet Res 2013; 15:e199. [PMID: 24021777 PMCID: PMC3785996 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.2606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2013] [Revised: 06/27/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A growing number of online pharmacies have been established worldwide. Among them are numerous illegal websites selling medicine without valid medical prescriptions or distributing substandard or counterfeit drugs. Only a limited number of studies have been published on Internet pharmacies with regard to patient safety, professionalism, long-term follow-up, and pharmaceutical legitimacy verification. Objective In this study, we selected, evaluated, and followed 136 Internet pharmacy websites aiming to identify indicators of professional online pharmacy service and online medication safety. Methods An Internet search was performed by simulating the needs of potential customers of online pharmacies. A total of 136 Internet pharmacy websites were assessed and followed for four years. According to the LegitScript database, relevant characteristics such as longevity, time of continuous operation, geographical location, displayed contact information, prescription requirement, medical information exchange, and pharmaceutical legitimacy verification were recorded and evaluated. Results The number of active Internet pharmacy websites decreased; 23 of 136 (16.9%) online pharmacies ceased operating within 12 months and only 67 monitored websites (49.3%) were accessible at the end of the four-year observation period. However, not all operated continuously, as about one-fifth (31/136) of all observed online pharmacy websites were inaccessible provisionally. Thus, only 56 (41.2%) Internet-based pharmacies were continuously operational. Thirty-one of the 136 online pharmacies (22.8%) had not provided any contact details, while only 59 (43.4%) displayed all necessary contact information on the website. We found that the declared physical location claims did not correspond to the area of domain registration (according to IP address) for most websites. Although the majority (120/136, 88.2%) of the examined Internet pharmacies distributed various prescription-only medicines, only 9 (6.6%) requested prior medical prescriptions before purchase. Medical information exchange was generally ineffective as 52 sites (38.2%) did not require any medical information from patients. The product information about the medicines was generally (126/136, 92.6%) not displayed adequately, and the contents of the patient information leaflet were incomplete in most cases (104/136, 76.5%). Numerous online operators (60/136, 44.1%) were defined as rogue Internet pharmacies, but no legitimate Internet-based pharmacies were among them. One site (0.7%) was yet unverified, 23 (16.9%) were unapproved, while the remaining (52/136, 38.2%) websites were not available in the LegitScript database. Contrary to our prior assumptions, prescription or medical information requirement, or the indication of contact information on the website, does not seem to correlate with “rogue pharmacy” status using the LegitScript online pharmacy verification standards. Instead, long-term continuous operation strongly correlated (P<.001) with explicit illegal activity. Conclusions Most Internet pharmacies in our study sample were illegal sites within the definition of “rogue” Internet pharmacy. These websites violate professional, legal, and ethical standards and endanger patient safety. This work shows evidence that online pharmacies that act illegally appear to have greater longevity than others, presumably because there is no compelling reason for frequent change in order to survive. We also found that one in five websites revived (closed down and reopened again within four years) and no-prescription sites with limited medicine and patient information are flourishing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andras Fittler
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Medical School, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary.
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Shaeer O. The Global Online Sexuality Survey (GOSS): The United States of America in 2011 Chapter II: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors Utilization among English Speakers. J Sex Med 2013; 10:532-40. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02972.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Campbell N, Clark JP, Stecher VJ, Goldstein I. Internet‐Ordered Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate) Is Rarely Genuine. J Sex Med 2012; 9:2943-51. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02877.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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