Table 1.
Possible types of drug counterfeiting with examples
| S. no. | Type of counterfeiting | Example | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | No active drug + no harmful substance |
a. Vials of PROCRIT® (epoetin) were found to contain nothing but Miami city tap water b. Remdesivir ampoules filled with normal saline |
[51] |
| 2. | Excessive (concentrated) active drug | Concentrated onabotulinumtoxin A (Botox®) not meant for human application | [31] |
| 3. | Wrong active drug | Sibutramine instead of orlistat in GSK’s Alli® | [31] |
| 4. | Drug contaminated with microbes, toxins and harmful chemicals |
a. Fake inhalers for the treatment of paediatric cystic fibrosis were found to contain contaminated bacteria b. Counterfeit cough syrup that was mixed with ethylene glycol (i.e., antifreeze) |
[31] |
GSK GlaxoSmithKline