Medicines board inquiry into availability of bogus Viagra

AN investigation into the open availability of potentially dangerous counterfeit Viagra pills originating in India has been launched by the Irish Medicines Board (IMB).

The pills, called Camagra, contain a pirate version of Viagra's active ingredient, sildenafil, and are being sold openly in sex shops and through mail order. Sildenafil is a prescription-only medication, which could prove fatal in severe cases if taken by someone suffering from a serious heart complaint.

"The IMB can confirm that the medicinal product advertised is an unauthorised product containing sildenafil 100 mg, the same as the active ingredient of Viagra," said an IMB spokesman, adding that the bogus product had been manufactured in India where patent laws are not yet effective. The IMB has also begun an inquiry into the Sunday World newspaper, which has been running illegal ads for the unlicensed drugs. Ads for two separate retailers selling the drug have been appearing in the newspaper for more than a month. The ads offer "Viagra" substitutes for 13 each. But an IMB spokesman yesterday confirmed that the paper had broken the law under the terms of medical licensing legislation and was under investigation.

"It is in breach of medicinal legislation to advertise or publish such an advertisement for this product. The IMB investigation in this matter is ongoing and it is therefore inappropriate to comment further on any action being taken," said the spokesperson.

Sunday World advertising manager, Gerry Lennon, said the ads had now been withdrawn in response to an IMB letter. A separate investigation has also been launched into the two retailers a Dublin sex shop and a PO box postal order operation which had been placing the ads in the newspaper.

When contacted, the manager of the sex shop, Cupids, in Dublin's South William Street, declined to reveal his name but said he was unaware it was illegal to sell the pills. "I didn't know that. As far as we were aware it was just a herbal thing. We were assured it was just a mix of herbs," he said, adding that the pills would be withdrawn from sale. The manager also declined to disclose the source of the counterfeit drugs. "We get it in the same place as everyone else gets it. There are a couple of guys around who sell it to us," he said. A week ago, a representative of the mail order operation told the Irish Examiner of the "Viagra" substitute, saying the drugs would be sent once a postal order was received. "They're the same as the real thing just with a different names. "But if you had a heart condition, I wouldn't advise you take them," he said. The illegal operation was not answering phone calls yesterday.