Abstract
The study evaluated the national landscape of Cialis® counterfeiting (active ingredient Tadalafil), as well as events related to this counterfeiting in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Through the analysis of data contained in forensic reports provided by the Scientific-Technical Unit of the Federal Police Department (Pelotas), the data were categorized according to variables such as year, state, and region where the seizures occurred. It was observed that the identification of the illegal production of Cialis® began in 2007 and extended until 2017, occurring in all Brazilian states except Roraima. The highest rates of seized medications occurred in the South and Southeast regions, while the years 2009 and 2010 showed a significant increase in seizures. On the other hand, states with few or no seizures were mainly located in the Northeast region, with some isolated cases in other regions. Regarding the most frequent type of counterfeiting in Rio Grande do Sul, it was found that falsification may occur both in primary packaging (blister packs) and secondary packaging (boxes). Also in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the substances identified as active ingredients included Tadalafil (the correct active ingredient), Sildenafil Citrate, or a combination of both. The role of the pharmaceutical industry is extremely important in the analyses carried out by the Federal Police, since the availability of a reference standard contributes to the process and enables comparisons between genuine and counterfeit medications. Therefore, it can be concluded that the counterfeiting of Cialis® is an activity present throughout the national territory, with greater prevalence in border regions, posing serious health risks to users.