Skip to main content
WCS
Menu
Library
Library Catalog
eJournals & eBooks
WCS Research
Archives
Research Use
Finding Aids
Digital Collections
WCS History
WCS Research
Research Publications
Science Data
Services for WCS Researchers
Archives Shop
Bronx Zoo
Department of Tropical Research
Browse By Product
About Us
FAQs
Intern or Volunteer
Staff
Donate
Search WCS.org
Search
search
Popular Search Terms
WCS History
Library and Archives
Library and Archives Menu
Library
Archives
WCS Research
Archives Shop
About Us
Donate
en
fr
Title
Fake antimalarials in Southeast Asia are a major impediment to malaria control: multinational cross-sectional survey on the prevalence of fake antimalarials
Author(s)
Dondorp, AM; Newton, PN; Mayxay, M; Van Damme, W; Smithuis, FM; Yeung, S; Petit, A; Lynam, AJ; Johnson, A; Hien, TT; McGready, R; Farrar, JJ; Looareesuwan, S; Day, NPJ; Green, MD; White, NJ
Published
2004
Publisher
TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
Abstract
Objective To assess the prevalence of counterfeit antimalarial drugs in Southeast (SE) Asia. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Pharmacies and shops selling antimalarial drugs in Myanmar (Burma), Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Main Outcome Measures Proportion of artemisinin derivatives or mefloquine containing drugs of substandard quality. Results Of the 188 tablet packs purchased which were labelled as 'artesunate' 53% did not contain any artesunate. All counterfeit artesunate tablets were labelled as manufactured by 'Guilin Pharma', and refinements of the fake blisterpacks made them often hard to distinguish from their genuine counterparts. No other artemisinin derivatives were found to be counterfeited. Of the 44 mefloquine samples, 9% contained <10% of the expected amount of active ingredient. Conclusions An alarmingly high proportion of antimalarial drugs bought in pharmacies and shops in mainland SE Asia are counterfeit, and the problem has increased significantly compared with our previous survey in 1999-2000. This is a serious threat to public health in the region.
Keywords
ARTESUNATE; DRUGS
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the
WCS Library
to request.
Back
PUB11082