Gilead Sciences, a pharmaceutical company, recently uncovered a dangerous drug-counterfeiting operation involving its HIV medications. The scheme occurred in two New York City pharmacies, 71st RX and Best Scripts, and was allegedly masterminded by Peter Khaim, a twice-convicted medical fraudster. Gilead sued Khaim and the pharmacies, describing him as one of the largest manufacturers and sellers of counterfeit Gilead medications in the country.
According to Gilead’s complaint, the counterfeiters used authentic prescription bottles from Gilead but tampered with the medication inside or associated documentation. They emptied the bottles, refilled them with the wrong medication, and resealed them using different materials than Gilead’s authentic tamper-evident seals. The counterfeit bottles were then sold with counterfeit patient information documents, caps, and invoices.
The majority of the seized counterfeit medication involved Gilead’s HIV medications Biktarvy and Descovy. The victims of this scheme include patients living with HIV who were convinced to give up taking their prescribed medication and patients who unknowingly received counterfeit medication from their neighborhood pharmacies.
Gilead took legal action against Khaim in 2021 and obtained an injunction to prohibit him from selling Gilead-branded products. However, Khaim continued to oversee the counterfeiting operation from the two Queens pharmacies. He had a history of involvement in unrelated criminal schemes and was wearing a court-ordered GPS ankle monitor while operating the pharmacies and selling counterfeit medication.
Gilead’s commitment to patient safety led them to file this lawsuit and work closely with government agencies and law enforcement to dismantle counterfeiting networks and deter fraudsters. They are determined to protect individuals from counterfeit and illicit versions of their medicines.
Counterfeit drugs pose a significant risk to patients and can have serious health consequences. In many cases, counterfeiters obtain medications from patients who sell them for cash. The labels are removed using lighter fluid, and the bottles are then resealed and dispensed to other patients. In this recent case involving Khaim, lighter fluid was found at the pharmacies during the seizures.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against counterfeit drugs and the need for stringent measures to ensure patient safety. Pharmaceutical companies like Gilead are working diligently to protect their products and safeguard the health of patients. It is crucial for patients to be aware of the risks associated with counterfeit medications and to only obtain their prescriptions from reputable sources.
