Pharmaceutical Processing World

  • Home
  • Regulatory
    • Recalls
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Facility
  • Supply Chain
  • Equipment and Materials
  • Contract Manufacturing
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

The Criminal Mind

By Pharmaceutical Processing | July 29, 2010

I don’t think I have a criminal mind. Which is probably why I can’t seem to wrap my head around the idea of counterfeiting – at least how it’s being done in relation to pharmaceuticals.

Sure, I am quite familiar with other forms of counterfeiting; whether it’s a rip-off of a designer handbag made from the “hide” of the elusive “nauga” animal instead of real leather, or the genuine “faux” pearls I once saw advertised on late night television. These and other examples of product counterfeiting are designed to fool the unaware or just the exceedingly gullible into the thinking they are getting genuine merchandise for a fraction of its original cost. As the saying goes, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

People who purchase these obvious rip-offs probably get what they deserve: a handbag that eventually falls apart or pearl earrings that dissolve into a puddle of glue during the first rain shower.

But what about counterfeit pharmaceuticals? What happens to people when they take drugs with too much active ingredient; or one that has a different and potentially harmful active ingredient? They get hurt. No one who ever purchased a counterfeit handbag ever got hurt by their purchase.

And it is here that I get confused. If you are a manufacurer of counterfeit pharmaceuticals trying to dupe people into buying your product – why are you putting dangerous ingredients into the mix? Are you trying to kill you customers? Are you hoping that your “special mix” of ingredients will have at least some nominal therapeutic effect so your customers keep coming back?

Government, industry and vendors around the world are implementing strategies and technologies to thwart the rise in pharmaceutical counterfeiting. But, as we see in the illegal drug business, there is a lot of money to be made and all it takes is a criminal mind to take advantage.

Have a comment or question about Pharmaceutical Processing?
My E-mail is: mike.auerbach@advantagemedia.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Articles Read More >

Doctor, woman patient and tablet for consulting with results, medical info and talk for healthcare with mockup space. Japanese medic, digital touchscreen or show video for surgery, wellness or advice.
Putting patients first in clinical trials
Confidently navigate the transition from bench to batch
Merck
FDA approves Merck’s Winrevair to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension
kobayashi pharmaceutical logo
Report: Japan health authorities investigate Kobayashi Pharmaceutical factory after five deaths
“ppw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news, technologies, and developments in Pharmaceutical Processing.

DeviceTalks Tuesdays

DeviceTalks Tuesdays

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Pharmaceutical Processing World
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • DeviceTalks
  • MassDevice
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • MEDICAL TUBING + EXTRUSION
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medtech100 Index
  • R&D 100 Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Pharmaceutical Processing World

  • Home
  • Regulatory
    • Recalls
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Facility
  • Supply Chain
  • Equipment and Materials
  • Contract Manufacturing
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE