FDA Scrutiny Scant In India and China As Drugs Flood U.S.

Washington Post ^ | June 17, 2007 | By Marc Kaufman

[JACKRUSSELL]

......Companies based in India were bit players in the American drug market 10 years ago, selling just eight generic drugs here. Today, almost 350 varieties and strengths of antidepressants, heart medicines, antibiotics and other drugs purchased by American consumers are made by Indian manufacturers.

Five years ago, Chinese drugmakers exported about $300 million worth of products to the United States. Eager to meet Americans' demand for lower-cost medicines, they, too, have expanded rapidly. Last year, they sold more than $675 million in pharmaceutical ingredients and products in the U.S. market.

......"As the manufacturing goes to China and India, the risk to human health is growing exponentially," said Brant Zell, past chairman of the Bulk Pharmaceuticals Task Force, which represents American drug-ingredient makers that filed a citizen's petition with the FDA last year asking the agency to oversee foreign firms more aggressively.

"The low level there" of follow-up inspections, "combined with the huge amount of importing, greatly increases the potential that consumers will get products that have impurities or ineffective ingredients," he said.

FDA officials say that they are not aware of any health problems caused by drugs imported from India or China and that the American companies that import them usually do their own quality and safety testing. But the agency acknowledges that it is virtually impossible for it to know whether poor-quality or contaminated drugs from lightly regulated Asian plants have caused patients to get sicker or remain ill, especially because patients and doctors are unlikely to suspect poorly manufactured drugs as a problem.

What is clear is that the odds are growing rapidly that the contents of an American medicine cabinet will hold products from the two countries.

[JACKRUSSELL]

Analysts estimate that as much as 20 percent of finished generic and over-the-counter drugs, and more than 40 percent of the active ingredients for pills made here, come from India and China. Within 15 years, they predict, as much as 80 percent of the key ingredients will come from those countries -- which are quickly becoming attractive to brand-name drugmakers, too.

[kittymyrib]

Time to wean Americans off their dependence on pills. Exercise, eat right and get eight hours of sleep. Taking pills manufactured by our enemies is not the way to increase one’s life span.

[Build_The_Fence]

But you can’t buy your Rx from Canada?

It’s time to clean house in D.C.

[JACKRUSSELL]

Canada probably buys some of their ingredients from China and India, too. The more you read, the more it seems that it is nearly impossible to get away from the poison these countries are peddling.

[Leisler]

"FDA officials say that they are not aware ...."

No f'n diddly? Who would of thunk?

[Leisler]

"FDA officials say U.S. drugmakers regularly test the drugs and active ingredients they buy from abroad.."

Ah, if you buy drugs and ingredients from others, you are not a 'drug maker'. You are a packager, a marketeer, but you are not a 'maker'.

[ears_to_hear]

Remember when our President wanted to "protect us" from Canadian and European drugs ?

Guess it depend on who it enriches.

I for one will never use another generic drug.

I contacted my med source Medco (online) and asked the origin of the generic drugs, I never did get a response.. that was a very loud and clear answer

Some things are worth the added money.I just heard there is no strength consistence in the imported antibiotics. As a medical person I know that means they are useless.

Please freepers, protect yourself say no to any non American or Canadian drug.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

"As the manufacturing goes to China and India, the risk to human health is growing exponentially," said Brant Zell, past chairman of the Bulk Pharmaceuticals Task Force.

A small price to pay for free trade, by golly. Yes sir. Free trade. That's what it's all about.

What is clear is that the odds are growing rapidly that the contents of an American medicine cabinet will hold products from the two countries.

Hurrah for free trade! What's losing a few citizens matter. It's free trade, man! That's what's important!

William Hubbard, a former FDA associate commissioner, called the situation dire and deteriorating.

Protectionist!

An executive for Shanghai Pharmaceutical, one of China's largest drugmakers. . . said that all drug ingredients his company exports to the United States meet stringent FDA standards and that American trade groups sometimes "urge quality controls as a trade barrier to protect the interests of their members."

Who you going to believe? Him or your lying eyes?

Obviously the Washington Post reporters are anti-free trade, nativist, bigoted, and xenophobic and listen to too much talk radio.

(Doubtless, there will be some who agree with me -- but I am being sarcastic. "Free trade" with the Chi-coms sucks and I sometimes wonder about some other countries.)

[mom4kittys]

[sweetiepiezer]

Pill Peiping.

[Diogenesis]

"FDA officials say that they are not aware ...."

ROTFLOL -- except it is not funny at all.

This is not plausible deniability. It is lack of accountability.

[PGalt]

BTTT

[null and void]

BAH! We don’t need to inspect China.

They’re a PERMINENT MOST FAVORED nation...

[Leisler]

Govey checks come in every two weeks, no matter what. There is no incentive to be acountable