Anti-counterfeiting
Background
Counterfeit drugs are drugs falsely labeled about its identity or origin, such as not containing the labeled ingredients or containing active ingredients other than the labeled ingredients. Counterfeit drugs have become an international issue and contain the risk for not providing the expected therapeutic effects, but also threatening the health and life of patients. In 2017, counterfeit drugs were discovered in Japan and the issues relating to counterfeit drugs are growing and becoming more serious. According to the data issued by Pharmaceutical Security Institute, the number of global illegal trading cases*1 have continued to increase every year.
- *1Total numbers of incidents including counterfeiting, diversion, tampering and theft
The action against counterfeit drugs is a mission for pharmaceutical companies to promote better health of people worldwide. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., including its affiliates (hereafter as "Otsuka"), increasingly need to manage risks relating to product security. Accordingly, Otsuka has established a professional management team (Global Product Security team) including its overseas affiliates, to establish a system to work on measures around the world consistently. We strive to ensure patient safety by market monitoring, collaboration with industries and governments so that medicinal products can be delivered to patients through appropriate secure distribution channels that can guarantee the safety and quality of our products.
Activity Policy
Otsuka will resolutely respond to issues that lead to unauthorized distribution of counterfeit drugs, diversion, product tampering, smuggling and thefts, etc., and will take the following measures to protect the health and safety of our patients.
- Otsuka proactively collects information on counterfeit drugs, diversion, product tampering, smuggling and theft at the global level through market research, monitoring of Internet transactions, internal and external communication, and collaboration with business partners, led by the Global Product Security Team. In addition, if we obtain counterfeit drugs or information suspected to be related to medicines manufactured and marketed by Otsuka, we cooperate with regulatory authorities and law enforcement under relevant laws and regulations to ensure the health and safety of our patients. We will endeavor to take appropriate measures promptly.
- Otsuka actively collaborates with regulatory authorities in each country, other pharmaceutical companies, and industry groups to consider risk analysis and countermeasures based on the collected information on counterfeit drugs, and strives to remove the threat of counterfeit drugs.
- To deliver authentic medicinal products marketed by Otsuka to patients with guaranteed quality through the secured distribution network, we evaluate transportation routes and distributors continuously. Based on that, we continue to strengthen supply chain function to avoid the risk for counterfeit drugs, diversion, product tampering, smuggling, and theft.
- Otsuka sequentially introduces more advanced and more reliable authenticity judgment technology and anti-counterfeiting technology.