Scenario of drug counterfeiting in Brazil between 2015 and 2022

Abstract

Objective: To establish an overview of drug counterfeiting in Brazil between 2015 and 2022. Method: This is a descriptive and retrospective study of data on drugs arrest with evidence of counterfeiting made available by the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency. Results: 30 different drugs were mentioned in counterfeiting records for the period studied with a predominance of biopharmaceuticals and controlled substances, and parenteral pharmaceutical forms. The drugs with the most falsification records were somatropin, immunoglobulin, sofosbuvir/ledispavir, eculizumab and defibrotide. Conclusion: For many years, drug counterfeiting in Brazil was mainly characterized by male sexual stimulants, anabolic steroids, and anorectic. However, high-cost drugs for treating chronic and rare diseases have recently gained prominence. This scenario may be related to several factors, such as the severity of the diseases, advances in drug therapies, high profitability, lack of access to drugs, and social and economic difficulties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.