Table 2.
Legitimate supply chain counterfeit penetration by therapeutic category
| Therapeutic class | Frequency | Percent (%) | Cumulative percent (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-infectives | 380 | 21.1 | 21.1 |
| Genitourinary | 260 | 14.5 | 35.6 |
| Cardiovascular | 208 | 11.6 | 47.1 |
| Central nervous system | 197 | 11.0 | 58.1 |
| Alimentary | 164 | 9.1 | 67.2 |
| Musculoskeletal | 146 | 8.1 | 75.3 |
| Metabolism | 138 | 7.7 | 83.0 |
| Respiratory | 68 | 3.8 | 86.8 |
| Other (unclassified) | 61 | 3.4 | 90.2 |
| Cytostatics | 58 | 3.2 | 93.4 |
| Hormones | 38 | 2.1 | 95.5 |
| Dermatological | 36 | 2.0 | 97.5 |
| Blood agents | 34 | 1.9 | 99.4 |
| Sensory organs | 5 | 0.3 | 99.7 |
| Parasitology | 3 | 0.2 | 99.8 |
| Not reported | 2 | 0.1 | 99.9 |
| Hospital solutions | 1 | 0.1 | 100.0 |
| Total | 1,799 | 100.0 | − |
According to the PSI CIS system, the term “counterfeit” refers to a report of a medicine that was deliberately and fraudulently produced and/or mislabeled with respect to identity and/or sources to make it appear to be a genuine product, whether branded or generic.
Therapeutic class definitions used by PSI CIS: Anti-infectives = drugs used to treat diseases caused by infectious agents including antimicrobial drugs, antivirals, antifungals, and antiproatozoans; Genitourinary = drugs used to treat diseases of the genitourinary or urogenital system including reproductive organs and the urinary tract; Cardiovascular = drugs that treat cardiovascular diseases and conditions impacting the heart, circulatory system, or both; Central nervous system = drugs used to treat neurological diseases of Central Nervous System, including mental health drugs; Alimentary = drugs used to treat diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract; Musculoskeletal = drugs used to treat diseases the musculoskeletal system including anti-inflammatory and certain antirheumatic drugs; Metabolism = drugs used to treat metabolic and endocrine disorders; Respiratory = drugs used to treat respiratory diseases and infections; Cytostatics = drugs used to treat carcinomas and other nonhomeostatic proliferation of cells; Hormones = drugs used to treat diseases of hormonal imbalance, such as hormone replacement therapy; Dermatological = drugs used for the treatment of dermatologic conditions; Blood agents = drugs used to treat hematologic disorders; Sensory organs = drugs used to treat sensory and proprioception disorders; Parasitology = drugs used to specifically treat parasitic diseases; Hospital solutions = agents to disinfectant in general hospital settings.