Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health | BESAFE

Protecting Patients from Substandard and Falsified (SF) #Drugs: A Shared Responsibility ? ??SF drugs are jeopardizing lives worldwide, impacting critical areas like #oncology, #maternal health, #chronic disease management, and #infectious disease treatment. Here are some staggering findings: ·?????Oncology: Substandard and falsified (SF) drugs contribute to treatment failures and rising mortality. An estimated 10–30% of cancer drugs in low- and middle-income countries are SF. ·?????Maternal and Child Health: In some regions, over 70% of #oxytocin is substandard, risking the lives of mothers and infants. ·?????Chronic Diseases: SF antihypertensives and #diabetes drugs endanger the health of over 300 million patients globally. ·?????HIV Treatments: The U.S. saw $250 million in counterfeit #HIV drugs sold through unauthorized distributors, worsening patient outcomes and public health risks. In parts of Africa, 19% of HIV meds are substandard, fueling #drug #resistance. ·?????Malaria: SF antimalarials contribute to 72,000–267,000 deaths in #sub-Saharan Africa each year. ·?????Opioid Crisis: #Counterfeit drugs containing fentanyl are a major driver in the U.S., responsible for over 100,000 deaths -?over 80% of opioid overdose deaths—in 2022 alone. ? ??With up to 60% of #online medications estimated to be fake or substandard, the rise of online pharmacies is worsening the issue globally. ? ?What Can We Do? The #BESAFE team at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in collaboration with Pfizer,?is working to raise #awareness and equip healthcare providers, policymakers, and the public with tools to combat SF drugs. For more insights, click here:https://lnkd.in/euYDz8NN ? ?? Join us for our upcoming #symposium on November 12th & 13th at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center, #Washington, DC! ?? Hear from global experts tackling the challenges of substandard and falsified drugs head-on. ? ??Register now (click here: https://lnkd.in/ehmabNBm) to save your seat — limited spots available! Be part of the solution and help drive meaningful change in patient safety and healthcare quality. ? #CounterfeitDrugs #HealthcareSafety #PublicHealth

?? Join us at the 2024 Symposium on Public Health Strategies for Combating Substandard and Falsified (SF) Drugs ?? ?? Date: November 12-13, 2024 ?? Location: Washington, DC ?? Hosted by: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health ??? Free to attend (limited to 200 participants) We’re excited to invite you to this important symposium that will address the growing global health crisis of substandard and falsified (SF) drugs. Although the issue of SF is thought to be a problem of lower-and middle-income countries (LMICs), a recent survey found that in the US more than 38% of Americans have been directly or indirectly exposed to events in which someone had received a substandard or falsified prescription medication from an online pharmacy. The problem is even bigger in LMICs, where in some countries more than 70% of oxytocin and more than 40% of malaria drugs on the market are substandard or falsified, contributing to high maternal and child mortality. Similarly, chronic disease medications, including antihypertensives and diabetes drugs, face similar threats, compromising the health of over 300 million patients globally. This problem affects vital areas like reproductive health, maternal and child health, mental health, oncology, HIV, infectious diseases, and chronic conditions worldwide. We hope you will be able to join us as we discuss possible solutions. Register at https://lnkd.in/gtb9svY6 Feel free to share this invitation with colleagues who might be interested. #PublicHealth #GlobalHealth #SFDrugs #PharmaceuticalSafety #HealthSymposium2024 #JohnsHopkinsBloombergSPH

??Combating Counterfeit Drugs: Key Strategies and Insights ?? In December 2023, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in partnership with Pfizer Worldwide Medical & Safety and Pfizer Global Security, hosted the illustrious “#Symposium on Public Health Strategies for Combating Counterfeit Drugs” at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. ???? Key points discussed: ?? #Urgent need for consumer education through health communication and behavioral change ?? #Strengthen the capacity and skills of regulatory bodies and healthcare personnel ?? Address the lack of country-level #data to better understand and combat the problem ?? #Leverage existing resources from global organizations, governments, drug manufacturers, suppliers, professional organizations, and academic institutions ?? #Implement new technology solutions for superior monitoring and surveillance, such as AI, blockchain, and advanced monitoring systems ?? Click here - https://lnkd.in/eU-Sg8XH - to access the full Symposium Report on Public Health Strategies for Combating Counterfeit Drugs 2023. This comprehensive report provides crucial insights and strategies to tackle the pervasive issue of counterfeit drugs.???? ? Stay safe, stay informed. ? . . #americanpharmacistsassociation #APCOWorldwide #BillandMelindaGatesFoundation #butleruniversity #GS1 #johnhopkinsuniversity #partnershipforsafemedicines #uscustomsandborderprotection #FoodDrugAdministration #worldcustomorganisation #worldhealthorganization

?? FAKE #OZEMPIC ALERT IN #AUSTRIA! ?? #Ozempic??, widely used for weight loss, has become a target for counterfeiters. Austrian #prosecutors are set to bring charges against two individuals accused of selling #fake Ozempic pens, leading to bodily harm? in three women. The defendants allegedly sold 225 bogus #injection?? pens labeled as Ozempic for €205 ?? each (USD222) to a plastic #surgeon in the city of #Salzburg. ?? These fake pens contained #insulin instead of the active ingredient semaglutide. ????The World Health Organization recently issued warnings ? on falsified weight-loss #drugs. Stay #informed and stay #safe! ?? ?? Read the #full article at https://lnkd.in/gb-sWYQQ #FakeMedications #Ozempic #WeightLoss

?? CRACKDOWN ON #COUNTERFEIT #SKINPRODUCTS IN #SURAT, INDIA ?? ??In a significant operation, the Gujarat Food & Drugs Control Administration (#FDCA) in India has busted three firms in Surat—Ayushi Enterprises, RJ Enterprise, and Cairo Biotech—for selling counterfeit? #skincreams misbranded as manufactured by a major pharmaceutical company. The #fake products were sold ?? on #Amazon. ??Key Points: ?? 1?? 14 samples taken for analysis. 2??Valuables worth over Rs 30 lakh?? confiscated. 3?? A complaint regarding DEMELAN Cream 50 gm sold on Amazon led to the raid. Stay vigilant and ensure you are buying genuine products!? ??Read full news on: https://lnkd.in/gXzQFSYj . . #Pharmaceuticals #ConsumerProtection #Amazon #India

?? #Manchester Man Charged with Manufacturing #Counterfeit Drugs in #NewHampshire, US ???? ?? ?? In a significant crackdown, a Manchester man has been charged with multiple counts related to manufacturing and distributing counterfeit #drugs. ?? The individual had previously sold pills to a confidential informant, including pills marked as #OxyContin and #Adderall, which tested positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine respectively. ?? ?? This case highlights the severe #risks associated with counterfeit drugs. Stay informed and vigilant. Join us in the fight against counterfeit drugs by spreading awareness and reporting suspicious activities. ?? Together, we can make a difference. ? Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gx4SWytj #CounterfeitDrugs #DrugTrafficking #HealthcareSafety #PublicHealth

?? BEWARE: #FAKE MEDS ON SALE IN #GANDHINAGAR, #INDIA ?? The Gujarat Food and Drugs Control Administration (#FDCA) recently uncovered a factory in Gandhinagar manufacturing fake ? #antibiotics. The factory owner of Shri Healthcare?? was found operating with false manufacturing licenses, producing spurious and substandard medications?? such as #azithromycin, #paracetamol, #methylcobalamin (a form of Vitamin B12), #pregabalin (used to treat epilepsy), as well as thiocolchicoside (a skeletal muscle-relaxant).?? These fake meds?? were made using Dibasic Calcium Phosphate Dihydrate IP (#DCP), starch or other cheap Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (#API) powder instead of the proper APIs. The officials seized ??Rs 43 lakh worth of material and found Rs 4 crore worth of fake APIs sold to other manufacturers. ???? ?? Stay informed and vigilant about the medicines you purchase. ??Report any #suspicious activities to the authorities. ??Read full news on: https://lnkd.in/g6hGajUN #FakeMeds #Gandhinagar #FDCA #PharmaceuticalSafety

?? #WHO Warns on Counterfeit #WeightLoss Drugs ???? ??The World Health Organization warns about #fake versions of Novo Nordisk's #Ozempic and #Wegovy, found in Brazi, the UK, and the USA. These counterfeits can lead to serious #health issues due to unmanaged blood glucose or weight. ?? Buy meds with a #prescription from #licensed physicians. Avoid unverified sources. ?? Verify your sources and consult #healthcare professionals! ?? ?? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g2TC6YU2 #HealthAlert #FakeDrugs #WHO #Ozempic #Wegovy #PatientSafety

?? TACKLING THE RISE OF #FAKE #XANAX PILLS Urgent Alert??A drugs gang in the West Midlands, UK, made #millions selling counterfeit Xanax pills on the #darkweb. These fake pills, ?? produced in garden sheds and garages, have generated over ￡4m in sales across the UK????and US????. Xanax, ?? a powerful tranquilizer used to treat #anxiety and #panicattacks, is not available on the NHS but can be obtained through private prescriptions in the UK. The gang used chemical powder and drug presses bought from #Oxfordshire to create these fake versions? ??Police forces in #England and Wales have reported a 120% increase in seizures of #counterfeit "street-benzos" since 2022. Misuse of these fake pills can lead to over-sedation, collapse, and overdose. ?? #Stayinformed and help spread the word to protect our communities from the dangers of counterfeit drugs Read full news on: https://lnkd.in/gYbHVY8m #PublicHealth #CounterfeitDrugs #Xanax #PharmaceuticalSafety #Healthcare

?? DIA #GLOBAL ANNUAL MEETING 2024: BESAFE SESSION ?? Join us at the DIA Global Annual Meeting 2024 for an insightful session on Behavioral and Educational Strategies for Avoiding #Falsified Medicine Exposure (#BESAFE). ?? The session is led by Lubna Merchant, MS, PharmD Director at #Risk Management Center of Excellence, Pfizer to address the pressing issue of counterfeit, substandard, and #falsified (CSF) drugs. ??This is a critical threat to global public health. ?? ?? Date: June 18th, Tuesday ? Time: 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM PDT ?? Venue: San Diego, CA, USA Don't miss out on this #opportunity to learn from the experts and contribute to the fight against #CSF drugs. ?? Register now on: https://lnkd.in/dGS_Qvpb to secure your spot. #DIA2024 #BESAFEProject #CounterfeitDrugs #HealthSystems