Fake Anti-obesity Drug Touted on the Internet
The European Commission has strictly warned consumers to keep away from a fake version of an anti-obesity drug, peddled vociferously on the internet. The drug hasn't been approved for sale in the EU.
Rimonabant, an anti-obesity drug from the house of Sanofi-Aventis has been widely advertised and sold on many websites, under the proposed brand name of Acomplia. According to an executive of the European Union, the European Medicines Evaluation Agency is still in the process of testing the drug for its viability as a safe weight loss drug.
The member adds that consumers who buy unlicensed and illegal rimonabant from the internet have great risks of being exposed to many side effects. He has appealed the people to not put their health at stake.
The member states of the EU have identified more than 170 counterfeited drugs that are being sold illegally on the internet. The executive pointed out that erectile dysfunction drugs, Viagra and Cialis along with Tami flu for viral infections are the most counterfeited drugs in the market.
Julian Mount, senior director of European Trade at Pfizer welcomed the move of the European Commission. He said that counterfeit drugs have even found a way to enter the legitimate medical chains in Europe .
Source: news.yahoo.com, April 5, 2006 |
