Canadians find fake Viagra; inspect retailer

Counterfeit Viagra continues to show its worldwide presence with a recent report from Canada. The tip came from a consumer, who purchased the fakes at a Marché Euromix retail location in Montreal.

Health Canada worked with Viagra maker Pfizer to confirm the illegitimacy of the product, and then inspected the store. The retailer has pulled the product from its shelves, according to an announcement.

Separately, Swiss officials report that fake Viagra contributed to an alarming 75 percent rise in illegal drug imports during the first half of this year.

And in an effort to thwart counterfeiters targeting developing countries, researchers in Sweden and the U.K. are developing a low-cost instrument to screen drugs for quality and authenticity. The idea involves a battery-powered, briefcase-sized system to be used by regulators, law enforcement and pharmaceutical wholesalers, reports SecuringPharma. The Wellcome Trust is providing $740,000 in funding for two years.

- see the Health Canada release
- read the article on Swiss imports
- here's the screener article