DISQUS

Julian Harris · 9 months ago

"The new definition of “counterfeit drugs” that reclassifies practically all generic anabolic steroids as “illegal countefeits” if they are not manufactured by a pharmaceutical multi-national corporations."

Can you explain how this is true? The definition classifies a product "with a false representation of its identity and/or source" as a counterfeit - or, in more common parlance, a product is counterfeit if it lies about what it is or where it's come from. How does this single out generic anabolic steroids? Do they all have fake packaging?

Also, on the page linked to, comments are made about IMPACT that may be misleading. For example, while patent-holding pharmaceutical firms are involved with IMPACT, as stakeholders, so are generic associations. For example, the European Generic Medicines Association supports IMPACT's definition, and the International Generic Pharmaceuticals Alliance was a founder of IMPACT. Furthermore, IMPACT mainly comprises of national drug regulatory agencies, most of which represent less developed countries (where counterfeit drugs are rife, and claim many lives--up to a third of medicines in some poor countries are fakes).

I simply don't see a "Big Pharma" conspiracy here.

Millard Baker · 9 months ago

It may not be a "big pharma" conspiracy but it effectively does severely limit the availability of generic products that compete with high profit margin brand names by creating another obstacle for generic manufacturers. The labelling requirement is the number one problem plaguing generic steroid companies. This keeps a lot of inexpensive products that meet label claims for active ingredients, etc. from reaching consumers who are unable to afford more expensive brand names.

The law may have good intentions and does address a serious problem (i.e. counterfeit products with no active medications and/or serious quality control problems) that could cause harm for some consumers. But that may not be the complete story behind the IMPACT changes.

turbo88 · 5 months ago

Solvay Pharmaceuticals, with their artificially high price, makes it almost impossible for the people who truly need testosterone replacement therapy. I have to go to unnecessary extremes to get the testosterone that possibly saved my life.