Viraj Shah was found with a range of bogus prescription-only medicines -- AstraZeneca's Nexium, Novartis's Diovan, Merck & Co's Propecia, Procter & Gamble's Actonel, Pfizer's Lipitor, Merck and Schering-Plough's Ezetrol, Merck's Hyzaar and Abbott's Reductil.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency said the case highlighted the risk to public
health posed by counterfeit medicines.
European drugmakers say they are increasingly concerned about the threat posed by fake drugs. They called last month for a ban on the repackaging of medicines within the European Union in order to boost security.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers blame the legal
practice of parallel trade -- in which drugs bought
in low-priced markets are repackaged and resold in
high-price countries -- for fuelling counterfeit
traffic. Parallel traders deny the charge.
Counterfeit medicines, which may contain the wrong
or even toxic ingredients, are on the rise
worldwide. The World Health Organisation estimates
they may make up 10 percent of the global
pharmaceutical market.
