Blog

On 22 October 2025, the Fight the Fakes Alliance, in partnership with the World Patients Alliance, convened global leaders, experts, and patient advocates for a high-level webinar on one of the most urgent health threats facing the African continent: substandard and falsified medicines.  The event, “Combating Substandard and Falsified Medicines in Africa,” featured insights from a distinguished panel of speakers representing healthcare, pharmacy, supply chain regulation, and patient communities.  Pernette Bourdillon Esteve of the World Health Organization Read more…

The Fight the Fakes Alliance is pleased to announce its two newest Goodwill Ambassadors, Dr. Chantelle Bailey and Razi Miliani. Together, our two new Ambassadors share a commitment to protecting patients, strengthening health systems, and fighting falsified medicines. Learn more about them below! Dr. Chantelle Bailey currently serves as the Programme Manager for the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS). She brings with her over 15 years of comprehensive national and international expertise in regulatory affairs, medication Read more…

Issue 7 of SF Pulse is out now! The issue highlights the following: Inadequate Legal Frameworks: On the Center for Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights blog, Komal & Aarish Alam argue that India’s legal and regulatory systems are not well-suited to address the proliferation of substandard medicines. An Urgent Call: At the Financial Express, Johns Hopkins Senior Associate Indu Bushan argues despite these challenges, greater focus is needed in India. One Thing Leads to Another: Read more…

A major investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) has revealed that vital chemotherapy drugs—used to treat common cancers such as breast, ovarian, and leukemia—are failing quality tests and putting patients in over 100 countries at risk. The study analyzed 189 samples of seven widely used cancer drugs: cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, leucovorin, methotrexate, and oxaliplatin, all on the World Health Organization’s essential medicines list.  The results were deeply concerning: About one in five Read more…

Issue 6 of SF Pulse is out now! The issue highlights the following: FtFA Academic Chair Oksana Pyzik issues a powerful call alongside the 78th World Health Assembly to hold those responsible for producing and distributing falsified medicines accountable. Writing for ENACT, researcher Aimé Raoul Sumo Tayo argues that despite recent progress, Congo-Brazzaville continues to face considerable challenges in combatting the threat of substandard medicines Global Press Journal reporter-in-residence Gamuchirai Masiyiwa explores the smuggled medicine trade in Read more…

Fight the Fakes Alliance delivered a statement during the 78th World Health Assembly, on Monday, 26 May 2025, agenda item 13.5, echoing the points previously raised at World Health Organization Executive Board meeting. In response to the WHO’s report evaluating the Member State Mechanism on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products—and its recommendation to enhance collaboration with non-State actors—FtFA reaffirms its commitment to working alongside Member States, WHO, civil society, regulatory authorities, law enforcement, customs officials, Read more…

Michael Schmitz, US Pharmacopeia, has officially been elected as FtFA’s new Vice-Chair starting 18 May 2025. Mike succeeds Geraldine Lissalde-Bonnet as one of our two Vice-Chairs, joining our Chair, Andrea Vassalotti, and fellow Vice-Chair, Chris Goetz, on the leadership team. Mike Schmitz brings extensive experience in international health policy and advocacy, currently serving as Director of International Advocacy at the US Pharmacopeia, where he leads global regulatory engagement to ensure access to quality medicines. He Read more…