US FDA chief Hamburg joins public and private sector leaders to address global counterfeit drug crisis

The US Food and Drug Administration is committed to keeping American drugs safe and needs new regulatory authority to do so, said Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner of the FDA, in prepared remarks at the inaugural Counterfeit Drug Interchange Conference hosted by the Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM), a consortium of more than 60 non-profit organizations.

The conference brought together more than a hundred cross-industry stakeholders to discuss ways to stem the rising tide of counterfeit and unsafe medicines. The PSM’s goal with the Interchange is to raise awareness of the scope of this epidemic, as well as the need for global collaboration, information sharing and tools and resources that will help protect consumers across the globe.

“The FDA is firmly committed to doing all that we can to further strengthen our nation’s drug supply and ensure the quality and safety of all drugs and medical products on the U.S. market,” said Dr Hamburg. “It is clear that FDA needs new regulatory tools that provide the authority we need to meet the challenges we face in today’s increasing globalized marketplace. And we look forward to working with Congress on legislation that will give FDA the ability to protect Americans from harmful drugs and medical products - and fulfill our fundamental public health mission,” she added.