Global position statement on counterfeit medicines
Key takeaway messages
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How BMS is fighting counterfeit medications to help protect the safety of our patients
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but in the realm of pharmaceuticals, counterfeit medicines present a serious threat to patient health and safety. Counterfeiting is a $200 billion a year industry that thrives in low- and middle-income countries, yet no part of the world is immune to its dangers. At BMS, we have an integrated team of experts dedicated to preserving patient safety and product integrity. Our proactive programs are designed to detect counterfeit and unauthorized products and prevent them from reaching our patients.
While counterfeit medicines may look like the real thing, they rarely have the exact ingredients or chemical makeup of the branded drugs they are intended to mimic. Bogus ingredients found in counterfeit drugs include corn starch, chalk and even rat poison, and are often paired with no active ingredient at all, not enough of it or too much of it.
"Counterfeit drugs, which may contain incorrect or harmful ingredients, wrong dose of, or total lack of active ingredients, pose a significant threat to patient safety, undermining the trust in healthcare systems and potentially causing harm to those who rely on effective and safe medications,” said Mariette Boerstoel, SVP, Worldwide Patient Safety. “At BMS, we are committed to ensuring the integrity of our products and protecting the well-being of patients worldwide by combating the dangers of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.”
Medicines are fairly easy to copy in regard to physical appearance, particularly those that come in liquid form. In general, the most commonly copied drugs around the world are antimalarials and antibiotics — hundreds of thousands of people die each year from imitation antimalarials and antibiotics alone.
The manufacturing of counterfeit medicines has grown significantly over the past two decades, and in many areas of the world, is backed by organized crime groups. While this global crisis impacts every part of the world, criminals are especially drawn to countries that offer “high profit, low risk.” That includes countries with:
- Less stringent regulatory policies
- Higher demand for cheaper medicines
- Weak supply chains
- Ineffective criminal laws
- Lack of law enforcement resources
The internet is the most fertile ground of all. There has been an exponential rise of rogue online pharmacies, with the majority — more than 90 percent — operating illegally.
BMS efforts to mitigate counterfeiting span teams across the enterprise, including Corporate Security, Innovation Law, Quality, Government Affairs, Global Product Development and Supply, and more.
Simeon Wilson, senior director of illegal trade and Europe, Middle East and Africa, leads an integrated team under BMS Corporate Security that investigates counterfeit cases around the world, many of which lead to raids and seizures of massive amounts of counterfeit product. He and his team investigate 20-30 cases at any given time, following leads from global vendors, colleagues at BMS or peers in the broader industry. Then they present as much evidence as possible to law enforcement to take action. And they aim big.
“We're never satisfied with just a seller,” Wilson said. “We're always looking for at least the warehouse, and then ultimately the manufacturing site.”
In 2023, BMS investigations led to 182 raids and 98 arrests. Some of these investigations start with cross-functional BMS teams studying a chart of suspect activity a digital version of the red-yarn-and-pushpin bulletin board seen in television crime shows.
One recent example of this collaborative work was the uncovering of a massive crime ring in Turkey, initially detected by our Trademark, Copyright & Brand Protection team, housed under Innovation Law. This team typically focuses on taking down BMS products being sold on websites like phony pharmacies, or through social media marketplaces — activity that the team calls “low-hanging fruit” in the grand scheme of the counterfeiting crisis. They troll millions of webpages looking for BMS products being sold illegally, and they have a 93% success rate in shutting these sites down. But, when they identify what appears to be an actual counterfeit situation, that’s when they go to Wilson’s team.
“Our goal is to make BMS a harder target, and as a result, our patients are safer, and it will be harder for them to find these dangerous products online,” said Elisabeth Stewart Bradley, VP and assistant general counsel, Innovation Law.
BMS works under the auspices of the Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), a global not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to protecting public health. “Through PSI, we can legally anonymize and share information and work together [with other experts in the industry],” Wilson said.
This team also works to build awareness around the issue, including educating BMS employees so they’re informed and don’t become victims as well.
“The internet is basically like the Wild West,” said Wilson. “Our advice is: Don’t go searching online or through social media for bargains; only visit websites that are referred by your doctor/pharmacist/HCP.”
“While there is no silver bullet to permanently fixing this problem, it’s our duty to try,” said Brian Turner, vice president of Corporate Security. In addition to the work his team is doing to combat this crime, Turner said raising awareness about counterfeit medicines and cultivating a “see something, say something” mentality within the BMS workforce is an added safeguard.
“We ask that if you see something that doesn’t look right, you raise it up to Corporate Security so we can chase it down,” Turner said.
To report an incident to Corporate Security, click here.