Article originally published in PLC Life Sciences Handbook 2009/2010

With sales of counterfeit pharmaceuticals predicted to increase at nearly twice the rate of sales of legitimate products, it is not surprising that tackling pharmaceutical crime is high on the agendas of both global policymakers and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The US-based Center for Medicine in the Public Interest estimates that in 2010 alone counterfeit medicine commerce will generate US$75 billion (about EUR51.2 billion) in revenues – a 92% increase from 2005. Worryingly for patients, it is anticipated that many of these counterfeits will come through the legal supply chain.

Against that background, this chapter considers:

  • „The global trends in pharmaceutical crime.
  • Various policy-related initiatives that are being advanced to fight pharmaceutical crime. In particular, this chapter covers:
    • „multinational initiatives;
    • „initiatives from the EC.
  • The responses of policymakers at the multinational, national and industry level to the particular problems raised by the internet.
  • New technologies which may assist in tackling pharmaceutical crime.

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Photo of Lisa Peets Lisa Peets

Lisa Peets leads the Technology Regulatory and Policy practice in the London office and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Lisa divides her time between London and Brussels, and her practice embraces regulatory counsel and legislative advocacy. In this context, she…

Lisa Peets leads the Technology Regulatory and Policy practice in the London office and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. Lisa divides her time between London and Brussels, and her practice embraces regulatory counsel and legislative advocacy. In this context, she has worked closely with leading multinationals in a number of sectors, including many of the world’s best-known technology companies.

Lisa counsels clients on a range of EU law issues, including data protection and related regimes, copyright, e-commerce and consumer protection, and the rapidly expanding universe of EU rules applicable to existing and emerging technologies. Lisa also routinely advises clients in and outside of the technology sector on trade related matters, including EU trade controls rules.

According to the latest edition of Chambers UK (2022), “Lisa is able to make an incredibly quick legal assessment whereby she perfectly distils the essential matters from the less relevant elements.” “Lisa has subject matter expertise but is also able to think like a generalist and prioritise. She brings a strategic lens to matters.”