Medicinal products may only be distributed in Switzerland if they are authorised by Swissmedic. The Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, is involved in the entire life cycle of a medicinal products because of its mandated areas of responsibility in the sectors of licensing and the authorisation and monitoring of medicinal products.
Swissmedic issues a warning regarding life-threatening, counterfeit erectile stimulants in the Asian region
20.06.2008 - The Singapore therapeutic products authorities (Health Sciences Authorities - HSA) have found high doses of the oral anti-diabetic Glibenclamid in several illegal potency drugs. Taking Glibenclamid in the dose that was discovered, which is many times too high, leads to a sharp drop in blood sugar level and can lead to coma and death. In total, there have been 4 deaths in Singapore and over 130 reports of side effects, often requiring hospitalization, which have been connected to illegal erectile stimulants containing Glibenclamid.
The Singapore authorities were alerted to the illegal drugs as a result of a reported case of side effects: a patient was hospitalised with hypoglycaemia and subsequently died. Subsequent research, analysis and internal investigations into this first case were carried out.
The following four products, which are illegally distributed and partially by means of the Internet, contained Glibenclamid:
- Power 1 Walnut
- Cialis (counterfeit, without indication of manufacturer)
- Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule
- Zhong Hua Niu Bian
Counterfeit Cialis with high dose of the oral anti-diabetic Glibenclamid
Erectile stimulants containing Glibenclamid have also been discovered in Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia, and cases of side-effects have occurred. The source of the various products is not yet known. According to information received to date from the Singapore authorities, the counterfeits are recent and are probably from a common source of raw materials. For this reason, further products could be concerned. The investigations are continuing.
Swissmedic, Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Singapore therapeutic products authorities four weeks ago, with a view to close co-operation. The MoU provides Swissmedic with access to security-related information on medicines and their manufacture. There are also such agreements with the USA, Australia and Canada.
By this warning, Swissmedic is again specifically stressing the dangers of ordering medicines via the Internet.