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UK finds another fake batch of Pfizer drug Lipitor

Posted on: Thursday, 3 August 2006, 17:33 CDT

LONDON (Reuters) - British authorities have found a new batch of counterfeit packs of Pfizer Inc's Lipitor cholesterol pill in the legitimate supply chain, highlighting the risk posed by fake drugs, officials said on Thursday.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency first seized fake Lipitor tablets in July 2005 and said last month that more packs from that batch had appeared. The packs recalled on Thursday had a different lot number. "The testing of the counterfeit product indicates that there is no immediate risk to patients, but because it is a counterfeit we can not guarantee its quality," Danny Lee-Frost, Head of Enforcement at the MHRA said in a statement.

"The MHRA advises patients to stop taking tablets from this batch and to contact their pharmacist. If patients have any concerns about possible side effects they should discuss them with their doctor." Pfizer said it was deeply concerned by the finding.

"This is the third time that a Pfizer medicine has been targeted, after the two previous incidents related to the discovery of the same batch of counterfeit Lipitor in the last year," said Olivier Brandicourt, managing director at Pfizer

UK.

"Enough is enough, and we are calling for the MHRA and law enforcement agencies to conduct a full and thorough investigation into this incident and the general vulnerability of the medicines supply chain."

The incident underscores the growing threat of fake medicines, which the British watchdog said had become a worldwide problem and a lucrative business for criminal gangs.

Lipitor is world's biggest-selling prescription drug, with annual worldwide sales of $12 billion, making it an attractive target for counterfeiters.

Source: REUTERS

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