11.10.2012, Brussels: Interpol last week announced the seizure of over 3.75million units of counterfeit medicines worth over 10million USD. Operation Pangea V - the largest internet based action targeting black market and fake of illicit medicines- spanned over 100 countries and resulted in over 80 arrests. The operation ran from September 25 to October 2.

Pangea V was coordinated by INTERPOL with support from the World Customs Organization, the Permanent Forum of International Pharmaceutical Crime, the Heads of Medicines Agencies Working Group of Enforcement Officers, Pharmaceutical Security Institute, Europol, as well as the Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP). The operation was also joined by companies including Legitscript, Visa, Mastercard and PayPal, resulting in more than 18,000 websites linked to illicit online pharmacies being identified and shut down.

EFPIA strongly supports the actions of Pangea V and believes that such operations are essential to ensure that patients get the highest quality of medicines available. At an EU level the EFPIA is currently developing a system to help shield the EU internal market from counterfeit medicines. Together with the EAEPC (the European Licensed Parallel Distribution Industry), GIRP (Groupement International de la Répartition Pharmaceutique) and PGEU (Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union), the respective European organisations of parallel distributors, wholesalers and pharmacists at EU level, EFPIA has proactively initiated a serialisation project, the European Stakeholder Model (ESM). The model ensures verification of product authenticity by professionals at the point of dispensing and provides a modern technology solution, using 2D barcoding, that will enhance patient safety as well as having the potential to generate additional spillover benefits in the future.

EFPIA believes that a combination of the ESM and operations such as Pangea V could in the long-term result in an EU internal market free of counterfeit drugs- ensuring patients certainty and quality regarding the medicines they buy. 

About EFPIA:

EFPIA represents the pharmaceutical industry operating in Europe. Through its direct membership of 33 national associations and 39 leading pharmaceutical companies, EFPIA provides the voice of 1,900 companies committed to researching, developing and bringing new medicines to improve health and quality of life around the world. The pharmaceutical industry invests 27.5 billion on research and development per year in Europe and directly employs 660,000 people including 116,000 in R&D units in Europe. 

EFPIA members are committed to delivering innovative medicines to address unmet needs of patients and reducing the burden of chronic diseases for Europe’s ageing population. EFPIA believes in close cooperation with its stakeholders to help create sustainable healthcare   systems and to develop prompt responses to health threats in Europe.

Media Contact:

Nicholas Elles
Communications Manager
EFPIA 
Rue du Trone, 108
1050 Brussels
TEL:  +32 (0)2 626 24 79
Email : communications@efpia.eu