Croatian study uncovers counterfeit medicines

A study carried out by researchers in Croatia has found that out of 26 samples of erectile dysfunction drugs seized from the illegal supply chain, 13 may have been counterfeit.

In laboratory testing using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) the suspect samples were shown to have inconsistencies in the identity and quantity of active ingredients claimed on the label, indicating they may be counterfeit. 

The researchers also found that two of the samples did not contain the claimed ingredient (vardenafil).

"To this day, there have been no recorded cases of counterfeit medicines in the legal supply chain in Croatia," claim the authors, who have published the research in the Croatian language journal Lijecnicki Vjesnik.

"However, medicines without marketing authorisation in Croatia, originating from different countries, can be found on the illegal market," they conclude.