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ARTICLE · 18 JUNE 2026

Current Counterfeit Challenges In The UK Pharmaceutical Sector

Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
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Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin

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The UK pharmaceutical sector faces significant challenges from counterfeit medicines that threaten patient safety and undermine legitimate supply chains. This analysis examines the current landscape of pharmaceutical counterfeiting...

United KingdomConsumer Protection
Laura Nend
Laura Nend
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The topic of counterfeit medicines was discussed at the recent PTMG (Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group) Spring conference in Munich. This article explores the situation in the UK and ways in which the issue is being addressed.

Earlier this year, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency ("MHRA"), the UK regulator of medicines, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion, responsible for making sure these products meet set standards for safety, quality and efficacy, published a press release stating that it had seized illegal medicines worth almost £45 million in 2025.

The MHRA's action prevented nearly 20 million doses of potentially dangerous medicines from reaching the public. Counterfeit medicines contain harmful substances or incorrect dosages which can harm health. The counterfeit medicines will usually include logos, brand names, labels, packaging, colour combinations, shapes or design elements identical or deceptively similar to those used by

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