CBP snares 'unapproved' Viagra, Cialis shipment

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Louisville seized a shipment containing 4,780 'unapproved' Viagra pills and 2,000 unapproved Cialis pills.

The shipment was arriving from Hong Kong and was headed to an individual in Montreal, Canada. If genuine, and approved by the FDA, the pills would have had an estimated manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of more than $460,000.

A spokesman for CBP would not comment when asked whether the pills were counterfeit, saying simply that they were seized "because they violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), which prohibits the introduction of any food, drug, device, tobacco product, or cosmetic that is adulterated or misbranded."

Genuine Viagra (sildenafil) is made by Pfizer, while Cialis (tadalafil) is a trademark of Lilly Icos. Both drugs are used to treat erectile dysfunction, and a perennial target of counterfeiters, seeking to cash in on the reluctance of some men to approach their doctors for a prescription.

CBP said that because only 3 per cent of online pharmacies reviewed by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) are in compliance with US pharmacy laws and practice standards, purchasing prescription medicines through online vendors is risky not only for the consumer’s health, but also their wallet.

Freer access – for example as over-the-counter (OTC) medicines – has alleviated the issue somewhat but there is still clearly a massive demand for the drug via illicit channels, with unwary purchasers often assuming products sold from unlicensed pharmacies are genuine and safe.

There have been reports of increasing use of ED drugs by young men seeking to improve sexual performance, or to offset the libido-sapping effects of some recreational drugs.