E-DRUG: The use of expired e-drugs (cont)
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Dear friends,
I would also like to carry on a bit on the idea of studying expriry
dates. Most manufacturers have decomposition data on their
drugs, because they somehow need a basis for establishing the
expiry date on a valid basis. They will know the results of
decomposition and the new substances (toxic and non-toxic) which
will be formed.
There are several ways forwards. The idea of Gaut has been carried
out already, and some labs or export firms will have data on
decomposition from the time they used to export drugs just before
or even over the expiring date.
Then there is a possibility of forced decomposition (by applying
heat and/or humidity) and studying the time needed before a drug
turns into toxic substances or loses its healing potential.
I am sure that many university-departments of pharmacy can be,
and will be willing to help. It seems to me that the WHO
collaborating centres could be the intermediate, and I think
WHO/DAP shall be willing to coordinate, but that is to be asked.
Pharmaceutical Chemistry is still very strong in many European
countries, and therefore it must be easy to find faculties of
pharmacy in e.g. the Netherlands, and certainly in Germany and
Austria willing to cooperate. In some countries, like the
Netherlands, there are Science shops, which are an intermediate
between universities and the public. They might also be interested
in being intermediate and planting such research into the
universities.
Finally, there is quite a strong international group of analytical
pharmacists organised withing the International Pharmaceutical
Federation (FIP), who is continiously monitoring and checking the
quality of drugs (mainly generics). Their chairman is Frans van der
Vaart, at the KNMP [the Netherlands Association of Pharmacists - WB] in the
Netherlands. I am sure they are willing to help and maybe already have a
lot of data.
I hope this helps,
Foppe
J.W.F. van Mil,
Snailmail: Margrietlaan 1, NL9471 CT Zuidlaren
Email: jwfvmil@wxs.nl
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