ABSTRACT
Objectives Drugs and medical supplies counterfeiting is one of the worldwide major problems that pose a significant threat to both global public health and the economy. Nowadays, one of the major unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic is the disastrous repercussions on the economy worldwide. The latter brought forth a noticeable rise in pharmaceutical and medical counterfeit products. Drug counterfeiting has thrived parallel to the expansion of electronic networks and the Internet during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the current study is to explore the perceived influence of the COVID-19 lockdown on the circulation of counterfeit drugs and medical supplies through the electronic market in Jordan. Methods A cross-sectional survey study was conducted in Jordan. The questionnaire was self-administered to the public as they are the probable counterfeit medicine victims and as drug counterfeiting is a nationwide problem. To capture participants' views, a total of 460 respondents were recruited and a simple random sampling strategy was used to collect data. The inclusion criteria were consumers aged 18 years old and above, who use the Internet when purchasing drugs and medical supplies, and are willing to participate in the study. Key findings The study indicated an increase in using electronic websites when purchasing medicines during the COVID-19 lockdown. Additionally, there was a significant correlation the between COVID-19 lockdown and the circulation of counterfeit drugs and medical supplies through the electronic market in Jordan. Conclusions The study indicated that the COVID-19 lockdown had influenced counterfeit drugs and medical supplies circulation through the electronic market in Jordan.Copyright © The Author(s) 2022.
ABSTRACT
Objective. To assess level and the structure of systemic antibiotic consumption in Russia over the period 2017 to 2021. Materials and methods. Data were collected and analysed in compliance with the standard protocol of the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe by the means of ATC/DDD methodology for J01 group - antibacterials for systemic use. Consumption was calculated for outpatients and inpatients separately as a number of DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID) for the main classes of antibiotics and the agents with the highest or the most diverse consumption levels for the given period of time, and was based on the data of wholesale purchases and public tenders. Results. Antibiotic consumption in Russia in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 was 16.6 DID, 14.3 DID, 14.8 DID, 19 DID, and 15.7 DID respectively. Penicillins, macrolides and lincosamides, and quinolones had the highest levels of consumption in outpatients. Prominent increase in outpatient consumption of antibacterials in 2020 was related to three agents: azithromycin, levofloxacin and ceftriaxone. Cephalosporins (mainly III-V generations), quinolones and penicillins had the highest levels of consumption in inpatients. Hospital consumption of meropenem, tigecycline, and vancomycin increased and amikacin and ciprofloxacin decreased over the duration of the study. Conclusions. Levels of systemic antibiotic consumption in Russia for the period 2017 to 2019 were relatively low and consistent with the average means for European Union and European Economic Area countries. The steep increase in consumption in 2020 was probably due to the wide use of antibiotics for the management of COVID-19 patients. The results of the study can be of value for the development of targeted national antibiotic stewardship programs and awareness campaigns as well as for the analysis of trends of emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.Copyright © 2022, Interregional Association for Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first detected in Wuhan, China, in the month of December 2019. Further, in March 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic was described by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a global pandemic. COVID-19 quickly spread around the world in the following months, affecting about 2.5 million individuals by April 2020. World markets, including the pharmaceutical industry, were devastated by this pandemic. Although no specific solution for this emerging infectious disease is currently available, the pharmaceutical industry is helping policymakers meet unmet COVID-19 desires, ranging from research and advancement initiatives on possible prevention methods to the management of the supply chain of drugs in times of crisis. Changes in demand, commodity shortages, contact adjustments, etc., are hindering developments in the mechanism of technology, research and development and are putting an impact on the health market of COVID-19. Other implications of COVID-19 on the physical condition and pharmaceutical market may include acceptance delays, heading to self-sufficiency in the delivery chain, etc. In addition, the pharmaceutical markets are battling to sustain natural consumer flows, as the latest pandemic has had an effect on access to essential drugs at reasonable rates, which is the key priori-ty of all pharmaceutical systems.Copyright © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers.
ABSTRACT
An analysis of the medicinal preparation consumption structure in the period of the COVID-19 pandemic in the pharmacy network reflects the existing outpatient practice and makes it possible to draw generalized conclusions about its compliance with the pharmacotherapy standards. The aim. Comparative analysis of population consumption of antimicrobial and antiviral medicines sold in the retail pharmacies of the Samara region in 2015-2021. Materials and methods. The study was conducted in the retail sector of the Samara region pharmaceutical market. The material of the study was the information on the list of items and dispensing volumes of antibacterial and individual antiviral drugs during the novel coronavirus infection spread (in 2020) in the network of the Samara region pharmacies. The data are compared with the indicators of the drug sales in 2015-2019. Methods of retrospective, comparative, graphical, methodological, content analyzes and statistical methods of analyses were used. Results. The authors have established a significant distortion in the consumption of systemic antimicrobial preparations in the Samara region pharmacy segment in the period of 2015-2019 with the predominance of the ATC (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System) J01D group, primarily cephalosporins (38%), mainly by the parenteral administration route. The share of macrolides (J01F) consumption in volume terms was 14.9%, of fluoroquinolones (J01M) - 11.3%, beta-lactam antibiotics with beta-lactamase inhibitors - 10.7%, beta-lactam antibiotics penicillins (J01C) - 8.1%. Compared to 2019, in 2020, under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the total consumption of AMPs increased by 2.1 times. In the "Other beta-lactam antibiotics" group with a predominant proportion of cephalosporins, there was an increase by 3.2 times, in the "Macrolides and lincosamides" group - by 3.5 times, in "Quinolone derivatives" - by 2.6 times. The noted facts should be assessed as the phenomenon that can have a direct impact on the growth of an antibiotic resistance on a population scale. Among antivirals, the largest consumption increase was noted for oseltamivir and rimantadine. In absolute terms, the volume of antiviral preparations consumption in 2020 increased by 2.4 times, which was accompanied by an increase in the cost of one package by 55.8%. Conclusion. In the period of spreading a novel coronavirus infection, a significant increase in the consumption of antimicrobial and antiviral preparations (up to 20 times for certain pharmacotherapeutic groups and names) was notified, which may negatively affect the growth of the antibiotic resistance in the population. Copyright © 2022 Volgograd State Medical University, Pyatigorsk Medical and Pharmaceutical Institute. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Mucosal administration especially via the nasal route is a novel and promising technique for medication and vaccine delivery. Mucosal pathways provide notable benefits that promote their selective usage for some critical disorders such as brain disorders. Many attempts are now being undertaken to create effective medicated formulations and innovative nasal delivery methods. The structure and major properties of the nasal cavity are elaborated on in this review. The comfort, accomplishments, and limitations of using the nasal route for medical reasons are explored, with a special emphasis on vaccination administration. Extensive data supports the potential and safety of nasal vaccination and medication administration. The utilization of nanomaterials in vaccinology has changed several areas of traditional disease diagnosis and treatment and has brought new insights into previously tough challenges in developing effective vaccinations. This overview will focus on crucial advances of nanomaterial in vaccine delivery through the nasal route against infectious diseases. Copyright © 2022
ABSTRACT
Some brand drug companies have stymied attempts by generic drug companies to obtain samples of brand drugs needed to develop and gain regulatory approval for their generic products. This conduct, which has been reported in both the US and Canada, raises drug costs to drug plans and other payors and can lessen competition. The literature to date contains little empirical evidence on the prevalence of this conduct, the attendant effects on generic drug market launches and costs incurred by drug payors. This paper addresses these questions for Canada, using data on the drug development projects undertaken by the members of the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association over the period 2015–2019. I found that about 16% of generic drug development projects were delayed due to originator firm efforts to impede access to samples of their drugs. The median generic drug launch delay (among affected drugs) attributable to the challenged conduct was 6 months. The additional costs to drug payors from the resulting delays in generic drug launches over the analysis period was in the order of $284 million, or $57 million annually. This study did not explore the additional generic drug development costs attributable to the challenged conduct.