Issue Brief
Jul 25, 2012
Pew's Allan Coukell submitted a statement of record to the Congressional Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation regarding concerns with the pharmaceutical supply chain. The focus of Coukell's testimony was the drug distribution system – the weaknesses in the system and the risks of counterfeit and stolen drugs. More info| Summary | Type |
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A Look Into The Pharmaceutical Supply Chain With Examples Of VulnerabilitiesDrug manufacturers and distributors work together in a robust system to deliver high quality products, but our pharmaceutical supply has become increasingly complex in recent years. Medicines originate in factories all over the world, More info |
Interactive |
A Look Into U.S. Drug Supply SafetyAn overview of the complex pharmaceutical supply chain from manufacturing through distribution of the finished drug, and advances proposed policy solutions to help reduce the risks of counterfeit, adulterated and substandard drugs. More info |
Infographic |
After HeparinThis report provides an overview of the complex pharmaceutical supply chain from manufacturing through distribution of the finished drug, and advances proposed policy solutions to help reduce the risks of counterfeit, adulterated and substandard drugs. Read two fact sheets describing the heparin adulteration and other examples of breaches to the U.S. drug supply. View an interactive graphic presenting an overview of today's globalized pharmaceutical supply chain and its vulnerabilities. More info |
Report |
Americans' Attitudes on Prescription Drug SafetyThis issue brief presents key findings from a nationwide survey about the safety of the U.S. drug supply among voters conducted March 29 –April 1, 2010 for the Pew Prescription Project by Hart Research Associates Public Opinion Strategies. More info |
Issue Brief |
Bill Comparison - Regulation of Overseas Drug ManufacturingThis issue brief from the Pew Prescription Project outlines the differences between bills from the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate regarding regulation of overseas drug manufacturing. More info |
Issue Brief |
Bill Summary - Counterfeit Drug Enforcement Act of 2009This issue brief is a summary of H.R. 2726 - The Counterfeit Drug Enforcement Act of 2009, also known as the Tim Fagan Law. More info |
Issue Brief |
Case Studies: How Unsafe Drugs Can Reach PatientsThe following case studies illustrate breaches to the pharmaceutical supply chain—the route a drug travels from its raw material origins to the delivery of a finished medicine. These examples, all of which are discussed in Pew Health Group’s report After Heparin: Protecting Consumers from the Risks of Substandard and Counterfeit Drugs, demonstrate the different ways in which contaminated, fake, or otherwise unsafe medicine can reach patients, and underscore the need for reform. More info |
Issue Brief |
Drug Safety and Accountability Act of 2010The Drug Safety and Accountability Act of 2010 (S.3690) seeks to strengthen industry standards to ensure the quality and safety of drugs made for the U.S. market, and to improve the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) oversight abilities through modernized information systems and new authorities, such as the power to order a drug recall. More info |
Issue Brief |
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FDA Globalization Act of 2009: Drug Safety ProvisionsThe Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act of 2009 (H.R.759) seeks to secure the safety of imported prescription drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients through greater FDA authority and manufacturer responsibility, and increased inspections of prescription drug and active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing sites abroad. More info |
Issue Brief |
Heparin: A Wake-Up Call on Risks to the U.S. Drug SupplyWhile the vast majority of drugs in American pharmacies and medicine cabinets are safe, globalization and reliance on outsourced manufacturing creates new risks, including deliberate tampering with ingredients and inadequate quality controls in plants that operate largely outside the scrutiny of the FDA. More info |
Issue Brief |
National Public Health WeekThis year's celebration of National Public Health Week (NPHW) focuses on the theme, "Public Health is ROI: Save Lives, Save Money." Join us in recognizing the work of Pew's Health Initiatives. More info |
Other Resource |
Pew Comment Letter to the Senate HELP Committee on Compounding LegislationPew sent a comment letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the Pharmaceutical Compounding Quality and Accountability Act. This bill takes steps toward clarifying state and federal oversight of compounding, including an important increase in FDA supervision of certain activities—specifically, the compounding of sterile medicines that are shipped interstate. More info |
Issue Brief |
Pew Comments to Senate HELP Committee on Drug Distribution SecurityThe Pew Charitable Trusts commented on the draft proposal to secure drug distribution in the United States. Although recognizing that the draft is the product of a sustained effort to address a complex system and balance sometimes competing imperatives, Pew shared areas of significant concern. More info |
Other Resource |
The Pew Charitable Trusts has identified 20 pharmacy compounding errors associated with 982 adverse events, including 67 deaths, since 2001. Contamination of sterile products were the most common compounding errors.
An overview of the complex pharmaceutical supply chain from manufacturing through distribution of the finished drug, and advances proposed policy solutions to help reduce the risks of counterfeit, adulterated and substandard drugs.
Allan Coukell
Senior Director, Drugs and Medical Devices
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Gabrielle Cosel
Manager, Drug Safety
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Copyright(c) 1996-2012 The Pew Charitable Trusts. All Rights Reserved.
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