Roche sues Indian manufacturers for selling counterfeit diabetes devices on Amazon

From CNBC: 2024-06-10 13:00:06

Roche, a major biotech company, is suing Indian manufacturers and sellers for allegedly selling counterfeit Accu-Chek diabetes medical devices on Amazon. The devices, including glucose test strips, are said to be expired or near expiry and repackaged with fake labels. The counterfeit devices can provide false blood glucose readings, posing serious health risks.

A judge granted Roche a temporary restraining order to halt the sale of counterfeit products on Amazon, where they were being stored in warehouses across the U.S. Roche alleges that the counterfeiters participated in Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon program, and Amazon receives a portion of revenue from counterfeit sales. Amazon stresses a zero-tolerance policy for counterfeits.

The lawsuit names Indian companies and their executives as defendants. Roche says the counterfeit products include Accu-Chek glucometers, test strips, and lancets, which were sold with fake serial numbers and expiration dates. The company launched an investigation after a whistleblower tipped them off, and customers complained about receiving fake products.

Roche did not specify how long the counterfeits were sold on Amazon or the number of customers affected. The issue of dangerous test strips emerged before when the FDA warned against using unauthorized strips in 2019. In 2011, Johnson & Johnson also dealt with counterfeit test strips. This incident is part of a larger problem with counterfeit items, as reported by CNBC in investigations into online marketplaces.



Read more at CNBC: Roche alleges counterfeit diabetes medical devices were sold on Amazon