Public Health Groups Alert New York to Counterfeit HIV Medications

The Partnership for Safe Medicines and the ADAP Advocacy Association have raised serious concerns over the alleged distribution of counterfeit HIV medication by City Plus Care Pharmacy Inc., operating as Heal The World Pharmacy, in Queens, New York. The complaint, backed by evidence from a civil lawsuit, accuses the pharmacy of selling fake bottles of Biktarvy, a crucial HIV treatment. The sophisticated packaging of the counterfeit drugs suggests the possibility of widespread distribution, threatening not only individual patients but also public health at large.

Shabbir Safdar, Executive Director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that such incidents represent a critical failure in the drug supply chain, endangering countless lives. The importance of verifying the authenticity of pharmaceutical products and suppliers cannot be overstated, especially in light of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act designed to prevent such breaches.

Modern HIV medications, when used correctly, can suppress the virus to undetectable levels, making it untransmissible. However, counterfeit medications risk reversing this progress, potentially leading to viral resistance and the resurgence of the virus's infectiousness. Brandon M. Macsata, CEO of ADAP Advocacy Association, highlighted the devastating impact of counterfeit HIV medications on the HIV community, where the difference between genuine and fake treatment can mean the difference between health and severe, life-threatening complications.

The complaint calls for immediate regulatory intervention, including thorough inspections of the pharmacy's facilities, verification of its pharmaceutical wholesalers, and a review of its purchasing records. It also urges the New York State Board of Pharmacy to investigate potential violations of federal and state laws concerning drug safety and traceability. Furthermore, advocates are pushing for any adverse findings to be escalated to the New York Attorney General's Office and relevant FDA offices for criminal investigation.

This incident underscores the critical need for vigilance in the pharmaceutical supply chain to protect patients from counterfeit medications that could have dire consequences for public health. For more information on the efforts to combat counterfeit drugs, visit https://www.safemedicines.org.