Fakers' Favorite Drugs

In 2006, the most popular targets for counterfeiters were Pfizer's blockbuster drug Viagra (sildenafil citrate), Eli Lilly's Cialis (tadalafil) and Bayer's Levitra (vardenafil) - all products for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Preliminary laboratory analyses by the US FDA on various drugs purchased via the internet have found counterfeits of: Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium); Diovan (valsartan); Actonel (risedronate sodium); Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium); Hyzaar (losartan potassium-hydrochlorothiazide); Zetia (ezetimibe); Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium); Celebrex (celecoxib); Arimidex (anastrozole) and Propecia (finasteride).

Add to this internationally the widespread counterfeiting of many anti-malarial, AIDS retroviral, and anti-TB drugs.

Now even the raw materials are under attack. The Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) of the US and the European Fine Chemicals Group (EFCG) banded together to demand increased regulatory inspections of foreign facilities manufacturing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).