Pfizer UK has decided to transform the way it distributes medicines in Britain and cut out 18 wholesalers.
It will announce today that it will itself distribute drugs to pharmacies and dispensing doctors, with the aid of a single delivery company, UniChem.
The reason they are quoting: to preventing fake medicines from entering the supply chain.
Dr Olivier Brandicourt, Pfizer’s managing director, said: “We are deeply concerned with the current distribution system and the increased incidence of counterfeit medicines in the UK supply chain.”
But Pfizer’s power to control its own medicines is limited. Under European law, it is legal to import medicines from the EU, repackage them and distribute them.
This parallel trade, as it is called, will continue.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), however, said yesterday that no counterfeits in Britain have been the result of parallel trade and that Pfizer’s change to its distribution arrangements was a commercial decision by Pfizer.
“We share Pfizer’s concern about increasing conterfeiting in the legitimate supply chain and regularly meet them and other drug companies to discuss the issue” a spokeswoman said.
“We take it very seriously, and that is why we have one of the largest anti-counterfeiting teams of any of the regulators.”
Insider's view: this "counterfeiting" argument is thin.
Could this not also mean that Pfizer are trying to reduce the effects of parallel trading?
One thing is for certain. This change will "rock the boat"!
The Times
1 comment:
Solves two problems -- counterfeits and PT. Better PR to talk about counterfeits, though.
See my post on this deal:
Pfizer's UK Deal: Change is Here!
Adam
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