Roche, a leading biotech company, has filed a federal lawsuit against manufacturers and sellers in India for selling counterfeit versions of its Accu-Chek diabetes medical devices on Amazon. The company claims that these counterfeit devices pose serious risks to patients as they provide inaccurate measurements of blood glucose levels. These dangerous counterfeit products were stored in Amazon warehouses across the United States, ready to be sold to unsuspecting American consumers.
The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, names four companies and their executives based in India as defendants. Roche was granted a temporary restraining order to stop the defendants from selling the counterfeit products. While Amazon is not a defendant in the case, Roche alleges that the counterfeiters participated in Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon program, which allowed them to store and ship the counterfeit goods with Amazon’s assistance.
Amazon, however, claims to have proactive measures in place to prevent counterfeit products from being listed on its platform. The company has a zero tolerance policy for counterfeit products and takes immediate action to remove counterfeit listings and block accounts involved in such activities. Amazon also collaborates with brands and law enforcement to protect customers from fraudulent sellers.
Roche’s Accu-Chek diabetes care medical devices, including glucometers, blood glucose test strips, and lancets, are widely used by millions of patients. These products can be purchased with or without a prescription at pharmacies and online marketplaces like Amazon. The counterfeit devices identified in the lawsuit were found to have misspelled names, fake serial numbers, and expiration dates.
Roche launched an investigation into the counterfeits after receiving information from a whistleblower. The company’s investigators purchased the counterfeit products from three Amazon stores listed in the complaint. It is unclear how long these counterfeit items were being sold on Amazon or how many customers received them.
This is not the first time that counterfeit medical devices have been a concern. In 2019, the FDA warned against using test strips from unauthorized sellers, highlighting the issue of faulty test strips being sold online. Johnson & Johnson also discovered counterfeit versions of its glucose test strips in India back in 2011.
Counterfeit products pose significant risks to public health and safety. In a separate investigation by CNBC, stolen items were found to be sold on Amazon’s marketplace by organized retail crime rings. Additionally, counterfeit prescription medications have been illegally altered and sold through a gray market supply chain. The presence of counterfeit medical devices and medications on online platforms raises serious concerns about consumer safety.
It is crucial for consumers to be cautious when purchasing medical devices and medications online. Buying from authorized sellers and reputable sources can help mitigate the risk of receiving counterfeit products. Furthermore, the responsibility lies not only with consumers but also with platforms like Amazon to implement robust measures to prevent counterfeit listings and protect their customers.
