Poor-quality antimalarial drugs lead to drug resistance and inadequate treatment, which pose an urgent threat to vulnerable populations and jeopardise progress and investments in combating malaria. Emergence of artemisinin resistance or tolerance in Plasmodium falciparum on the Thailand-Cambodia border makes protection of the effectiveness of the drug supply imperative. We reviewed published and unpublished studies reporting chemical analyses and assessments of packaging of antimalarial drugs. Of 1437 samples of drugs in five classes from seven countries in southeast Asia, 497 (35%) failed chemical analysis, 423 (46%) of 919 failed packaging analysis, and 450 (36%) of 1260 were classified as falsified. In 21 surveys of drugs from six classes from 21 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, 796 (35%) of 2297 failed chemical analysis, 28 (36%) of 77 failed packaging analysis, and 79 (20%) of 389 were classified as falsified. Data were insufficient to identify the frequency of substandard (products resulting from poor manufacturing) antimalarial drugs, and packaging analysis data were scarce. Concurrent interventions and a multifaceted approach are needed to define and eliminate criminal production, distribution, and poor manufacturing of antimalarial drugs. Empowering of national medicine regulatory authorities to protect the global drug supply is more important than ever.

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laninf/PIIS1473-3099(12)70064-6.pdf

Poor-quality antimalarial drugs in southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa

CE has been alive for over two decades now, yet its sensitivity is still regarded as being inferior to that of more traditional methods of separation such as HPLC. As such, it is unsurprising that overcoming this issue still generates much scientific interest. This review continues to update this series of reviews, first published in Electrophoresis in 2007, with updates published in 2009 and 2011 and covers material published through to June 2012. It includes developments in the field of stacking, covering all methods from field amplified sample stacking and large volume sample stacking, through to isotachophoresis, dynamic pH junction and sweeping. Attention is also given to online or inline extraction methods that have been used for electrophoresis.

/pdf/recent-advances-in-enhancing-the-sensitivity-of-3r7zei2u45.pdf

Recent advances in enhancing the sensitivity of electrophoresis and electrochromatography in capillaries and microchips (2016–2018)

On-line sample preconcentration in capillary electrophoresis: Fundamentals and applications

The production of counterfeit or substandard anti-infective drugs is a widespread and under-recognised problem that contributes to morbidity, mortality, and drug resistance, and leads to spurious reporting of resistance and toxicity and loss of confidence in health-care systems. Counterfeit drugs particularly affect the most disadvantaged people in poor countries. Although advances in forensic chemical analysis and simple field tests will enhance drug quality monitoring, improved access to inexpensive genuine medicines, support of drug regulatory authorities, more open reporting, vigorous law enforcement, and more international cooperation with determined political leadership will be essential to counter this threat.

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laninf/PIIS1473-3099(06)70581-3.pdf

Counterfeit anti-infective drugs

The circulation of substandard medicines in the developing world is a serious clinical and public health concern. Problems include under or over concentration of ingredients, contamination, poor quality ingredients, poor stability and inadequate packaging. There are multiple causes. Drugs manufactured for export are not regulated to the same standard as those for domestic use, while regulatory agencies in the less-developed world are poorly equipped to assess and address the problem. A number of recent initiatives have been established to address the problem, most notably the WHO pre-qualification programme. However, much more action is required. Donors should encourage their partners to include more explicit quality requirements in their tender mechanisms, while purchasers should insist that producers and distributors supply drugs that comply with international quality standards. Governments in rich countries should not tolerate the export of substandard pharmaceutical products to poor countries, while developing country governments should improve their ability to detect substandard medicines.

Substandard medicines in resource‐poor settings: a problem that can no longer be ignored

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(00)05065-0.pdf

Pharmacopoeial quality of drugs supplied by Nigerian pharmacies

A specific, accurate, and sensitive measure of total plasma malondialdehyde by HPLC

The oleoresin of Pistacia atlantica var. mutica, growing in different regions of Iran, is a popular naturally occurring chewing gum and has been used traditionally in the treatment of peptic ulcer. The GC-MS analysis of the essential oil, obtained from steam distillation of the oleoresin of P. Atlantica var. mutica, has led to the identification and quantification of eleven terpenoids, α-pinene (70%), β-pinene (1.94%), 3-carene (0.2%), carveol (2.18%), epoxypinene (2.15%), limonene oxide (9%), myrtenol (5.31%), limonene (0.62%), citral (5.72%), α-phellandrene (0.2%), and β-myrcene (0.3%). The total amount of essential oil obtained was 22% v/w which is higher than any other species of the genus Pestacia.

Raymond G. Reid

Papers

Pharmacopoeial quality of drugs supplied by Nigerian pharmacies

A specific, accurate, and sensitive measure of total plasma malondialdehyde by HPLC

GC-MS Analysis of the Essential Oil from the Oleoresin of Pistacia atlantica var. mutica

Biological activity of serotonin conjugates from the seeds of Centaurea nigra

Evaluation of quality control strategies in Scutellaria herbal medicines.