Fight The Fakes

What Fight The Fakes does

Fight the Fakes Alliance (FtFA) is a Geneva-headquartered, multi-stakeholder non-profit association founded in 2013 that coordinates a global coalition of healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, patient advocacy groups, academic institutions, regulatory bodies, and philanthropic foundations around the issue of substandard and falsified (SF) medicines. The organization does not sell commercial products or operate proprietary technology; instead, it functions as an advocacy and awareness platform whose "products" are educational resources, publications, and convening events. Core offerings include the bi-monthly SF Pulse newsletter on Substack, the White Paper on Critical Enablers, an annual Fight the Fakes Week awareness campaign (held in early December), the Goodwill Ambassadors Program, and co-promotion of partner resources such as the WHO Training Toolkit on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products, the GPHF-Minilab (a portable chemical-detection kit supported by Merck KGaA), and the APEC Supply Chain Security Toolkit. The alliance delivers statements at the World Health Assembly and WHO Executive Board meetings and engages with the WHO Member State Mechanism on SF medical products, positioning itself as a civil-society voice in global pharmaceutical policy.

The organization is governed by a Chair (currently Andrea Vassalotti of the World Heart Federation), two Vice-Chairs (Michael Schmitz of US Pharmacopeia, elected May 2025; and Chris Goetz of the IFPW Foundation), and an Academic Chair (Oksana Pyzik of UCL School of Pharmacy). Membership is open to business and non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and youth groups, with private-sector companies joining via a separate corporate-partner scheme; this membership dues stream is the alliance's primary revenue model, with specific pricing not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market motion is community-led: the alliance recruits members, organizes events (webinars, Fight the Fakes Week, WHA receptions, Johns Hopkins symposium), amplifies content through member networks spanning over 100 countries (FIP's 4M+ pharmacists, IPSF's 500,000+ pharmaceutical students, regional goodwill ambassadors), and uses digital channels (website, social-media assets, SF Pulse newsletter) to distribute free educational resources.

Name

Fight The Fakes

Legal name

Fight the Fakes Alliance

Website

https://fightthefakes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Fight the Fakes Alliance is a Geneva-based, multi-stakeholder non-profit association founded in 2013 that convenes healthcare professionals, manufacturers, patient groups, academics, and regulators to raise awareness and influence policy on substandard and falsified medicines worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Advocacy

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Government Accountability, Ethics & Anti-Corruption Advocacy (BPAGAFAN)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical advocacy coalition
• Anti-counterfeiting awareness
• Medicines supply chain
• Public health education
• Membership non-profit

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The alliance operates as a membership-based non-profit association. Membership is open to business and non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and youth groups. Private sector companies can join as corporate partners via a separate membership scheme.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fight the Fakes Alliance is a multi-stakeholder non-profit association that raises awareness about the dangers of substandard and falsified medicines through advocacy, education, and coalition building. It recruits members from healthcare professionals, manufacturers, wholesalers, researchers, patients, and civil society, coordinating campaigns such as Fight the Fakes Week, webinars, statements at WHO and the World Health Assembly, and the SF Pulse newsletter.

Product overview

Fight the Fakes Alliance is a multi-stakeholder non-profit association that functions as an advocacy and awareness platform rather than a software product. The organization offers a portfolio of educational resources including the SF Pulse newsletter (a bi-monthly publication), the WHO Training Toolkit on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products (containing competency frameworks and curriculum guides), and its own White Paper on Critical Enablers. The Alliance coordinates annual campaigns including Fight the Fakes Week, and supports the Goodwill Ambassadors Program. Additionally, the organization shares partner resources such as the GPHF-Minilab (a portable testing laboratory) and the APEC Supply Chain Security Toolkit. The organization does not offer a commercial software product but rather serves as a coordination and awareness hub for the global fight against substandard and falsified medicines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fight the Fakes Alliance Membership Organizational membership in a multi-stakeholder coalition open to business and non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and youth groups, plus a separate corporate partner scheme for private sector companies. Members participate in advocacy, awareness campaigns, and policy engagement.
• SF Pulse Newsletter A bi-monthly newsletter that elevates important issues and relevant stories shaping the ongoing fight against substandard and falsified medical products, featuring articles, updates, and analysis from various contributors.
• Fight the Fakes Week Campaign An annual week-long campaign (typically held in December) raising awareness about substandard and falsified medicines through webinars, events, social media engagement, and downloadable playbooks.
• White Paper on Critical Enablers A white paper identifying critical enablers in the prevention, detection, and response to substandard and falsified medicines, highlighting urgent needs for enhanced education, collaboration, and country-based initiatives.
• Goodwill Ambassadors Program A program featuring individuals from various regions (Caribbean, North Africa, Southern Africa) who advance the organization's mission through advocacy, public engagement, and regional outreach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500,000 deaths annually from fake medicines in sub-Saharan Africa
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Fondation Pierre FabrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Newest member as of January 2025. Has been historically active on substandard and falsified medical products since 1999. Founded by Pierre Fabre to improve access to quality medicines and care in developing countries. Currently running 35 programs in 21 countries. Participated in roundtable on strategies to eradicate fake medicines in Africa alongside FtFA member Brazzaville Foundation.
• Italian Center for Coordinated Research (CRC) in Precision Medicine and Chronic Inflammation at University of MilancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Newest member as of January 2025. Research focuses on precision medicine to tailor patient approaches for best response while minimizing side effects. President Giovanni Damiani brings experience in tailoring treatments with focus on dermatology, an area impacted by substandard and falsified medicines.
• Université la Source ConakrycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Joined as newest member in September 2024. Private University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Guinea with emphasis on inclusivity and research. Students and faculty conduct annual campaigns on SFs visiting villages and teaching health workers. Producing educational videos on fake medicines in Africa.
• World Patients AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFtFA member collaborating on high-level webinars including Combating Substandard and Falsified Medicines in Africa (October 2025). Provides patient advocacy perspective and voice to the alliance.
• US PharmacopeiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFtFA member organization providing Vice-Chair leadership. Mike Schmitz serves as Director of International Advocacy and leads global regulatory engagement. Collaborates with WHO, APEC, and PAHO on supply chain security initiatives including APEC Supply Chain Security Toolkit.
• World Heart FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChair organization of FtFA. Andrea Vassalotti serves as Chair of the alliance. Delivers official statements on behalf of FtFA at WHO Executive Board meetings and World Health Assembly.
• International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFtFA member representing pharmaceutical manufacturers. Committed to safeguarding patients from counterfeit medicines. Works with authorities to detect suspect products and pursue legal actions.
• International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFtFA member representing over 4 million pharmacists worldwide. Developed competency framework and comprehensive course on SF medicines for pharmacy students implemented in African universities. Collaborated with WHO on educational resources.
• International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation (IPSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFtFA member representing over 500,000 pharmaceutical students in more than 100 countries. Organizes annual campaigns to help members spot fake drugs and risks. Advocates for pharmacy curriculum integration of SF medicine topics.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFtFA collaborates with WHO on statements at World Health Assembly and Executive Board meetings. Supports WHO's Member State Mechanism on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products. Promotes WHO's Training toolkit on substandard and falsified medical products.
• Partnership for Safe MedicinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFtFA member. Executive Director Shabbir Imber Safdar serves as board member. Provides expertise on drug supply chain security and counterfeit medicines in the US market.
• Brazzaville FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFtFA member. Hosted roundtable on concrete strategies and actions to eradicate fake medicines and strengthen African healthcare systems at Africa CSR & Health Forum alongside FtFA member Fondation Pierre Fabre.
• Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFtFA member. Represented at Global Health Security Conference in Sydney discussing need to protect against substandard and falsified medicines.
• IFPW FoundationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFtFA member. Christopher Goetz serves as Vice-Chair of the alliance. Contributes expertise in international pharmaceutical distribution.
• World Trade OrganizationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvited FtFA to speak at closed-door panel on Substandard, Falsified and Counterfeit Medical Products alongside WHO and World Customs Organization at annual Trade and Public Health Workshop. Event brought together country representatives from 30+ countries.
• World Customs OrganizationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with FtFA on panel discussions about falsified medicines challenges for trade and customs authorities.
• Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFtFA member US Pharmacopeia collaborated with APEC to launch Supply Chain Security Toolkit for medical products.
• Université de DoualasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with FtFA on video exposing harsh truth about fake and substandard medicines in Africa alongside students from Guinea, Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Ivory Coast.
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted 2024 Symposium on Public Health Strategies to Combat Substandard and Falsified Drugs with ~103 attendees. Released report charting course of action to combat SF drugs.
• UCL School of PharmacysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic chapter of FtFA. Professor Oksana Pyzik serves as FtFA Academic Chair. Published Nature Reviews article on poor-quality medicines causing humanitarian and economic harm. Leading study on fake news and fake medicines link.
• King's College London Fight the FakessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic chapter of FtFA. Hosts webinars on substandard and falsified medical products including sessions with Dr. Asma Buanz and Raffaella Ravinetto on francophone Sub-Saharan African response.
• International Association of Public Health Logisticians (IAPHL)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWilson Chandomba, CSCL serves as Southern Africa Regional Lead for IAPHL. Founder of CMCOMMS Supply Chain Quality Assurance and FtFA Goodwill Ambassador.
• Global Pharma Health Fund (GPHF)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization supported by Merck KGaA. Developed GPHF-Minilab, a portable mini-laboratory for detecting substandard and falsified medicines. Updated protocol to detect toxic antifreeze agents in children's cough syrups.
• Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted major investigation revealing chemotherapy drugs failing quality tests and putting patients in over 100 countries at risk. Findings featured prominently by FtFA.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI): Non-profit intelligence-sharing body created by pharmaceutical manufacturers to combat pharmaceutical counterfeiting; comparable mission and constituency to FtFA but focused on industry data and enforcement support.
• Partnership for Safe Medicines: U.S.-focused multi-stakeholder coalition advocating against counterfeit and unsafe medicines; comparable advocacy model and supply-chain integrity mission, and an existing Fight the Fakes Alliance member.
• Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global): International advocacy organization focused on combatting illegal online pharmacies and counterfeit medicines — directly overlapping with FtFA's mandate, especially around the 95% of unlicensed online pharmacies issue.
• U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP): Scientific non-profit setting quality standards for medicines and a key FtFA partner and Vice-Chair seat-holder; overlaps on supply-chain integrity but operates as a standards body rather than advocacy coalition.
• Pharmaciens Sans Frontières (Pharmacists Without Borders): International pharmacist-led NGO working on access to quality medicines, particularly in LMICs; comparable mission and pharmacist-led constituency, particularly relevant to FtFA's Africa-focused activities.

Broad incumbents

• World Health Organization (WHO): The largest multilateral body addressing substandard and falsified medicines via its Member State Mechanism and Training Toolkit. FtFA is a recurring contributor rather than competitor, but WHO defines the policy landscape in which FtFA operates.
• INTERPOL: Runs Operation Pangea and other pharmaceutical counterfeiting enforcement actions with national authorities — operating in an adjacent layer (criminal enforcement) to FtFA's advocacy/awareness model.

Others

• European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM): Council of Europe body supporting pharmaceutical quality and the MEDICRIME Convention on counterfeit medical products; thematically aligned with FtFA's regulatory and standards agenda though not a direct advocacy competitor.

Emerging players

• Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP): Non-profit coalition focused on eliminating illegitimate online pharmacies; narrower (online-only) but directly comparable mission to FtFA on the digital counterfeit channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fight The Fakes