Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
August 12, 2025
Counterfeit HIV Medication Scandal Threatens Public Health in New York
TLDR
- City Plus Care Pharmacy Inc. faces allegations of dispensing counterfeit HIV medication, highlighting the need for vigilance in the drug supply chain to protect public health and safety.
- The complaint details how counterfeit Biktarvy, with professional packaging, was allegedly sold, emphasizing the importance of verifying suppliers and products under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act.
- Counterfeit HIV medications threaten to undo progress in HIV treatment, risking patients' health and their partners' safety by potentially making the virus infectious again.
- A complaint reveals counterfeit HIV meds in Queens could reverse treatment advances, showing how fake drugs endanger lives and public health achievements.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news is critical because it exposes a dangerous breach in the drug supply chain that could have life-altering consequences for individuals living with HIV and their partners. Counterfeit medications not only jeopardize the health of those directly affected but also threaten to reverse the significant advancements made in HIV treatment and prevention. It underscores the necessity for rigorous oversight and verification processes within the pharmaceutical supply chain to protect public health and maintain trust in medical treatments.
Summary
The Partnership for Safe Medicines and ADAP Advocacy Association have raised serious concerns by filing a complaint against City Plus Care Pharmacy Inc., operating as Heal The World Pharmacy, for allegedly dispensing counterfeit HIV medication in Queens, New York. The complaint, backed by evidence from a civil lawsuit, accuses the pharmacy of selling fake Biktarvy, a crucial HIV medication, with packaging so convincing it suggests a potential widespread public health risk. This situation underscores a critical failure in the drug supply chain, threatening to undo decades of progress in HIV treatment and prevention by potentially rendering the virus transmissible again among affected individuals.
Shabbir Safdar of the Partnership for Safe Medicines and Brandon M. Macsata of ADAP Advocacy Association emphasize the grave consequences of counterfeit medications, which can lead to viral resistance and life-threatening complications. The complaint calls for immediate regulatory scrutiny, including inspections and verification of the pharmacy's suppliers, to prevent further endangerment of public health. This incident highlights the importance of stringent drug supply chain security measures to safeguard patients from counterfeit medications that can have devastating effects on their health and the broader community.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Counterfeit HIV Medication Scandal Threatens Public Health in New York
