PhRMA Supports Fighting Counterfeit Drugs in China

In response to the U.S government's request for a World Trade Organization panel to investigate intellectual property rights enforcement in China, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) issued a statement saying the move shows the U.S. government's commitment to fighting counterfeit drugs.

"Intellectual property protection and counterfeiting are among the pharmaceutical industry's highest priorities in China," PhRMA Senior Vice President Ken Johnson said.

"Over the last several years, the Chinese government has become a stronger partner in the fight against counterfeit medicine, particularly in investigating potential drug counterfeiting activity," he continued. "However, despite the Chinese government's best efforts to combat drug counterfeiting, the prevalence of counterfeit medicines within and originating from China continues to grow and is supplied by an increasingly sophisticated network of criminals."

Johnson added that PhRMA is committed to working with the governments of the U.S. and China to identify new ways to eliminate counterfeiting. PhRMA represents the major pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies in the U.S.