Jonathan Stempel, Manas Misra

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Gilead Sciences Inc (NASDAQ) A bogus network of drug distributors/suppliers sold more than $250 million in counterfeit HIV drugs to its pharmacies over the past 2 years. It was a danger for patients.

According to drugmaker, it discovered 85,247 faked or tampered-with bottles, which included versions of the Biktarvy treatment and Descovy.

Gilead also stated Wednesday that it had seized Gilead’s Gilead-labeled medications from seventeen locations across nine states in its investigation.

Gilead also said that an investigation found unlicensed pharmaceutical distributors selling drugs to pharmacies.

Gilead stated Tuesday that counterfeiters used genuine, often empty, or nearly-empty bottles once containing HIV medication.

The counterfeiters substituted false tablets and documentation for the originals, sealing the bottles to “resemble” the authentic unopened bottles.

The Wall Street Journal reported the alleged scheme earlier.

Gilead revealed its anticounterfeiting efforts the day after a Brooklyn federal Judge dismissed an identical civil lawsuit filed by Foster City, California-based firm last July.

Gilead notified the public of HIV counterfeits two weeks after filing the suit under seal.

For their role in the distribution to unsuspecting patients of dangerous counterfeits, putting patients’ lives and health at risk, the company charged 22 defendants with violating New York federal consumer protection and trademark laws.

Gilead stated that a counterfeit anti-psychotic medication was a drug that causes sleepiness and is often sold in large quantities. The tablets are six times stronger than what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends for certain patients.

One patient, who had received a counterfeit Biktarvy from a friend and was unaware that he or she had taken the drug, reported feeling unable to talk or move afterward.

The suit is seeking, among other things, to have counterfeit drugs seized.

In the last quarter of 2021, global HIV treatments sales totaled $4.19Billion. That includes $2.71B of Biktarvy or Descovy.

Lori Mayall is Gilead’s anti-counterfeiting chief executive. She stated that the lawsuit’s presiding judge ordered defendant distributors not to sell Gilead-branded medication. The company did not know of any violators.

Mayall released a statement saying that they believe they have stopped additional counterfeits being sent to patients by these defendants.