THE net is closing on counterfeiters who peddle the fake drugs that now account for one-tenth of all medicines sold worldwide. A planned global task force, announced on 18 February by the World Health Organization, will identify, prosecute and close down the manufacturers and sellers of the fakes.
The illicit trade in bogus drugs, which often don鈥檛 work or contain dangerous ingredients, is forecast to double to $75 billion by 2010. They are particularly prevalent in developing countries, where weak regulation and enforcement allow them to circulate undetected. In parts of Africa up to half of what claim to be anti-malarial drugs may be fakes.
鈥淚n Africa up to half of what claim to be anti-malarial drugs may be fakes鈥�
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鈥淭here really is unanimous support for pushing this forward,鈥� says Howard Zucker of the WHO, and co-founder of Impact, the International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce. Impact will pool information from Interpol, national police forces, the pharmaceutical industry and whistle-blowers representing consumers and health professionals. It will also back the development of authentication technologies that counterfeiters will not be able to copy.
