LONDON, July 2 /PRNewswire/ --

LONDON, July 2 /PRNewswire/ --

- Over 60% of Medicines Sold by Online Pharmacies are Fake

- The In-Depth Report Examining Internet Pharmacies and Life-saving
Medicines Purchased Online was Presented Today by the EAASM at the 3rd Annual
Pharmaceutical Anti Counterfeiting Conference in London.

- With Photo

The European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines (EAASM) has today
unveiled its comprehensive research report - The Counterfeiting Superhighway.
The report reveals that a frightening 62% of medicines purchased online are
fake or substandard. These include medicines indicated to treat serious
conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory disease, neurological
disorders and mental health conditions.

The rapid growth of illegal online pharmacies means there is a higher
risk that fake medicines will reach patients. Untrained, unsuspecting
consumers are extremely vulnerable to the potentially lethal outcomes of
buying medicines online. The Counterfeiting Superhighway report reveals the
scope and repercussions of this growing, dangerous practice through extensive
research and examination.

Following in-depth analysis of over one hundred online pharmacies,
commonly purchased prescription-only medicines were ordered online.(1) All
medicines were delivered without requiring the sight of a prescription. This
is illegal and presents a serious threat to public health. Expert visual and
chemical analysis of the prescription-only medicines purchased online
compounded the desk research findings.

- 95.6% of online pharmacies researched are operating illegally.

    - 94% of websites do not have a named, verifiable pharmacist.

    - Over 90% of websites supply prescription-only medicines without a
      prescription.

    - 86% of online 'pharmacy approval' stamps are fake.



The report demonstrates that there is a three in five chance of receiving
fake or substandard medicine when you buy online. Whilst only 38% of the
medicines received were found to be genuine branded medicines, 16% of these
were illegal non-EU imports (genuine products, imported into the EU illegally
from a non-EU country) and 33% did not have patient information leaflets,
which in itself is also illegal and potentially dangerous to consumers'
health.

Shockingly, on a number of occasions, the life-saving cardiovascular
medicine 'Plavix' was supplied with free 'Viagra' (or products purporting to
be these medicines). Anyone who is taking medicines for a serious heart
condition should be under close medical supervision, especially when taking a
cocktail of drugs for other conditions, including erectile dysfunction.

Dr Ian Banks, President, European Men's Health Forum: "I was alarmed to
see that a number of the 'medicines' delivered were accompanied by free,
unsolicited tablets, provided without any medical assessment. Far from
rewarding consumers with 'bonus pills', this practice shows that these
unscrupulous, criminal online drug traders appear willing to potentially risk
the health and well-being of their customers."

Among a number of recommendations, the report suggests that popular
search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN should remove web pages from
search results which advertise counterfeit medicines. This tactic has already
proved successful in preventing people from accessing child pornography
websites, so surely similar success can be achieved with combating illegal
online pharmacies.

Jim Thomson, Chair, EAASM: "The report findings are shocking and the
story it tells demands action. Consumers are susceptible to fake medicines
which could harm their health, and in extreme cases be deadly. The EAASM
calls on all stakeholders including search engines, credit card companies,
shipping companies, patient groups and regulators, to take action and halt
this dangerous trend."

About the EAASM

The European Alliance for Access to Safe Medicines (EAASM) was founded in
2007 and is an independent, cross-sector voice representing European
patients' rights to access safe medicines. The Alliance acts to raise
awareness of the risks of counterfeit and substandard medicines to patient
safety, address the shortcomings of current legislation and enforcement, and
campaign for greater protection for European patients. Website:
http://www.eaasm.eu.

Notes to editor

The press release only provides some of the horrifying results of the
research. The full report is available to download from http://www.eaasm.eu
(currently available in English only).

(1). List of products purchased online

    Cardiovascular and respiratory: Lipitor (Pfizer), Plavix 
    (sanofi-aventis), Seretide (GSK), Coversyl (Servier), Micardis 
    (Boehringer-Ingelheim), Spiriva (Boehringer-Ingelheim)

    Mental health: Zyprexa (Lilly), Efexor (Wyeth), Risperdal (J&J)

    Alzheimer's disease: Aricept (Pfizer), Reminyl (Shire)

    Men's health: Cialis (Lilly), Levitra (Bayer-Schering), Viagra (Pfizer),
    Propecia (MSD)

    Other: Zoton (Wyeth), Reductil (Abbott), Mirapex (Boehringer-Ingelheim)



A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA 
Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net
or viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or 
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk.

LONDON, July 2 /PRNewswire/ --

For further information: email enquiries@eaasm.eu or visit 
http://www.eaasm.eu