Counterfeit versions of at least 104 Pfizer medicines have been confirmed in more than 116 countries. That’s why we maintain an aggressive campaign to fight counterfeit Pfizer medicines.
To assist law enforcement agencies to prevent counterfeit Pfizer medicines from reaching patients, Pfizer Global Security has provided product awareness training to law enforcement agencies in 183 countries.
Interpol Operation Pangea XVI in 2025 involved police, customs and health regulatory authorities from 90 countries. The annual campaign, targeting illegal sales of counterfeit and illicit medicines, resulted in the arrest of 769 suspects and the dismantling of 123 criminal groups worldwide. A total of 50.4 million doses of unapproved and counterfeit medicines were seized worldwide, and around 13,000 websites, social media pages, channels, and posts associated with criminal activity used to market and distribute illegal or falsified pharmaceuticals were shut down.
We have an aggressive campaign to fight counterfeit Pfizer medicines.
Fight the Fakes is a campaign that aims to raise awareness about the dangers of fake medicines by telling the stories of those who have been personally impacted and of those working to put a stop to this threat to public health. It also outlines opportunities for action by organizations and individuals who are looking to support this effort.
Share Your Story DetailsCounterfeit medicines are dangerous by their very nature – they are not produced under safe manufacturing conditions and they are not inspected by regulatory authorities. It is impossible to know what ingredients counterfeit medicines contain. Sophisticated counterfeiters will put some of the active ingredient in the fake medicine and make it look very similar to the real medicine.
The primary danger in taking a counterfeit medicine is that you are putting something into your body that not only may not help your current condition, but more alarmingly could result in harmful effects to your overall health.
No country or product is immune to the threat of counterfeit. Even in countries generally considered "safe," such as Canada, the United States, and many in the European Union, counterfeit medicines have entered the supply chain. The types of counterfeit medicines offered for sale without a prescription include, but are not limited to, lifesaving medicines such as those to treat cancer, bacterial infection antibiotics, diabetes, and anti-inflammatory medicines.
Reputable online pharmacies will ask for a prescription issued by a relevant healthcare professional and provide adequate warnings about the possible side effects of the drug.
It is precisely because of the threat that counterfeit medicines pose to patients that Pfizer has implemented an aggressive and focused campaign to detect, disrupt and deter major manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit Pfizer medicines.
We work with wholesalers, pharmacies, customs offices, and law enforcement agencies worldwide to increase inspection coverage, monitor distribution channels, and improve surveillance of distributors and re-packagers. Most significantly, we conduct and manage pro-active investigations and refer the cases we develop to enforcement authorities. Our investigations are initiated in response to “leads” from a variety of sources, including complaints from patients and healthcare professionals, observations by members of our sales force, information concerning changes in sales volume and patterns from confidential informants and intelligence from enforcement authorities.
How Can You Spot The Fakes?
*Source: Pfizer Global Security
Global Security protects Pfizer’s product life-cycle supply chain and associated manufacturing and research facilities by means of intensive physical security risk mitigation standards and assessments. Our best in industry physical security standards and assessment program focused on proprietary and third-party partner facilities ensures robust physical security preparedness, securing our colleagues and facilities while ultimately safeguarding company products for Pfizer’s patients.
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