You are invited to attend the launch of Coincidence or Crisis, a new book about an unregulated, criminal and growing part of the global economy: the business of creating, distributing and selling counterfeit pharmaceutical products. There is one major difference between pharmaceutical counterfeiting and other underground industries: lives are at stake.

Evidence is mounting around the globe. According to a 1997 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), 10%-20% of drugs tested in developing countries failed the most basic quality test, meaning the medicines are either counterfeit or that they have not been handled according to manufacturer specifications.

In Europe, in practice otherwise known as parallel trade or re-importation, profiteers masquerading as pharmacists are selling unsafe, unregulated, mislabelled, repacked and co-mingled drugs to unsuspecting consumers.

Imagine living in a world where doctors were afraid to write prescriptions because it was unclear whether or not the pharmacy had genuine, ‘real’ pharmaceuticals on its shelves. Such a future is conceivable if the counterfeit pharmaceutical industry is allowed to continue its growth.

Coincidence or Crisis brings together some of the world’s leading experts to discuss the growth of counterfeit pharmaceuticals. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the core issues, while delimiting key strategies to tackle the problem.

Graham Satchwell, LL.B (Hons), FRSA, is a British security expert. A former detective superintendent, Graham led successful criminal and civil investigations of counterfeit brandname goods, including pharmaceuticals, throughout Europe, Asia and the developing world.

He runs a specialist anticonterfeiting company, ProcoSolutions.com, chairs the UK government Patent Office Brands Group, and consults for several global corporations.