Released on: September 9, 2008, 9:15 am

Press Release Author: Partnership for Safe Medicines

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: Partnership for Safe Medicines shares expertise with leaders
to combat contraband and counterfeit drugs

Press Release Body: ACCRA, Ghana—To combat the increasing amounts of contraband and
counterfeit drugs threatening public health, West African government officials,
business leaders, and non-profit organizations gathered today for the Stakeholder
Forum on Safe Medicines in Accra, Ghana. The Partnership for Safe Medicines, a
coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to protecting consumers from
counterfeit medicines, helped lead a discussion about how the region can work
together to address this important health problem.

“If we want to avoid more deadly incidents both in West Africa and the United
States, we must unify in the fight against counterfeit drugs, said Scott A. LaGanga,
executive director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM). “Unscrupulous
counterfeiters do not hesitate to use foreign, even toxic, materials in their
products. Today’s meeting is an opportunity to work together as a global community
to address the vulnerabilities threatening the safety of our prescription drugs.”

According to World Health Organization estimates, as much as 30 percent of medicines
on sale in many African countries are counterfeit drugs. Counterfeit drug markets
usually flourish in countries due to inadequate regulation and enforcement, poverty,
and a lack of an official supply chain.

There are several, recent examples of counterfeit drug incidences in West Africa.
Earlier this month, the pharmacy board in Sierra Leone destroyed stocks of fake,
substandard, expired and counterfeit drugs collected from pharmacy outlets in many
border towns. In Nigeria, government officials recently shut down about 11 illegal
pharmacies and medicine shops, arresting six of the operators. According to news
reports, the Lagos State Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drug and Unwholesome
Processed Foods has arrested more than 500 illegal operators and closed more than
3,000 illegal premises within the last 12 months.

“In today’s global environment, it doesn’t matter if you live in the Americas,
Europe, Asia or Africa—everyone is at risk from counterfeit drugs,” continued
LaGanga. “Counterfeit drugs are a global public health hazard that requires an
international solution. All across the world, we are seeing more incidents of
counterfeiting involving more types of drugs in more countries.”

Headquartered in Virginia, PSM recently developed a set of drug safety principles to
form the basis for a national strategy to strengthen the U.S. distribution system
and curtail the criminal counterfeit drug trade. The principles are aimed to
address the urgent need for progress in the fight against counterfeit drugs,
encourage policymakers to enact stronger safety measures, and enable law enforcement
to deal with problems at their source.

In addition to the Principles for Drug Safety, PSM offers several online resources
to help consumers ensure the safety of their prescription drugs, including guides to
safely purchasing medicines online and how to save money without compromising drug
safety. To learn more about why counterfeit drugs are unsafe at any cost, visit
SafeMedicines.org.

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About the Partnership for Safe Medicines
The Partnership for Safe Medicines is a group of organizations and individuals that
have policies, procedures, or programs to protect consumers from counterfeit or
contraband medicines. To join us in our stand against counterfeit drugs or obtain a
copy of the Principles for Drug Safety, please visit www.SafeMedicines.org.

Web Site: http://www.SafeMedicines.org

Contact Details: 1025 Vermont Avenue, Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20005