Expert: Drugs can be duplicated in six months

Pharmaceutical counterfeiters can duplicate the latest drugs on the market within six months, said John Allan, Director of Investigations of Carratu International PLC, in the UK. Allan was in Russia a few weeks ago and this boast was made by four counterfeiters who were unaware of his identity. “It didn’t matter what came on the market, if a blockbuster drug was released tomorrow, if some amazing new breakthrough was on the market next week, within six months they can copy it.” The problem is not confined to poorer countries. Europe and the United States were also being used as markets for fake drugs. He said six months is a very short time when the research and development cycle of a new drug is considered.

“These people have no fear.  They see this as a lucrative opportunity.” Allan was speaking on the “Future of Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting” on Tuesday at the Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting conference hosted by the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI)  at Hilton Trinidad. He said the packaging of counterfeits was very professional and made detection very difficult. He warned that as the technology of the “good guys” improved, counterfeiters also had access to the same technology. “They are just playing catch up.” Allan said organised crime was involved because counterfeiting was a very lucrative field and easy to start.The initial investment needed is minimal.

Allan said terrorist groups were moving into counterfeiting as an alternative source of funding. He said their normal means of revenue were being cut off because teams of intelligence officials were examining bank accounts. Despite the extent of the pharmaceutical counterfeiting, not all companies have taken action. Allan expressed shock that some “major producers” (he did not name them), in highly developed countries had no preventive measures for their products. He said these companies were shirking their responsibility. “The most difficult thing a counterfeiter has to do is copy the preventive devices that are on the package. This is why we have covert marking.” He said advances against counterfeit terrorism will not be made unless Governments get involved.