E-DRUG: Identification of falsified chloroquine tablets in Africa during COVID-19 pandemic
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Dear e-druggers,
several previous statements posted here on e-drug have speculated
about a likely increase of falsified medicines as a consequence of the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Shifting (sadly enough) from expectations to proven fact, I would like
to draw your attention to the following article which was just
published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene:
'The identification of falsified chloroquine tablets in Africa at the
time of the COVID-19 pandemic'
In this article we describe the detection and analysis of five
different types of falsified chloroquine as a joint effort of the
German Institute of Medical Mission (Difaem), the Difaem-EPN-Minilab
Network (EPN: Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network) and the University of
Tuebingen.
You might recognize three of the investigated samples from
the WHO Medical Product Alert No 4/2020
(https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/09-04-2020-medical-product-alert-n4-2020).
This article can be accessed using the following link:
http://www.ajtmh.org/content/journals/10.4269/ajtmh.20-0363
Abstract
Reports that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine may be effective
against COVID-19 have received worldwide attention, increasing the
risk of the introduction of falsified versions of these medicines.
Five different types of falsified chloroquine tablets were discovered
between March 31 and April 4, 2020, in Cameroon and the Democratic
Republic of Congo by locally conducted thin-layer chromatographic
analysis.
Subsequent investigation by liquid chromatography and mass
spectrometry in Germany proved the absence of detectable amounts of
chloroquine and the presence of undeclared active pharmaceutical
ingredients, i.e. paracetamol and metronidazole, in four of the
samples. The fifth sample contained chloroquine, but only 22% of the
declared amount. Such products represent a serious risk to patients.
Their occurrence exemplifies that, once medicines or vaccines against
COVID-19 may be developed, falsified products will enter the market
immediately, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Timely preparations for the detection of such products are required,
including the establishment of appropriate screening technologies in
LMICs.
Kind regards
Gesa Gnegel
Gesa Gnegel, Licensed Pharmacist
Pharmaceutical Institute, Tuebingen University and German Institute
for Medical Mission (Difaem)
e-mail gesa.gnegel@uni-tuebingen.de
and
gnegel@difaem.de