{"id":18345,"date":"2016-11-18T14:49:44","date_gmt":"2016-11-18T19:49:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/fighting-counterfeit-drugs-one-text-at-a-time\/"},"modified":"2016-11-18T14:50:36","modified_gmt":"2016-11-18T19:50:36","slug":"fighting-the-counterfeit-drugs-market-one-text-at-a-time","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/fighting-the-counterfeit-drugs-market-one-text-at-a-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Fighting the counterfeit drugs market, one text at a time"},"content":{"rendered":"

A market worth disrupting<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2014, the global pharmaceutical market was estimated at $1.0 trillion and forecasted to grow to $1.3 trillion by 2018[1]<\/a>. The market for counterfeit drugs is estimated to be $75bn[2]<\/a>, so not an inconsequential percentage of a very large market. Deaths that arise as a result of patients taking fake drugs is the biggest negative effect of counterfeit drugs. Counterfeit drugs are more rampant in developing countries where regulation is not as robust. According to a 2005 World Bank report, for many people in poor countries with weak regulatory systems, the likelihood that they are buying fake or ineffective drugs can be as high as 50%[3]<\/a>. The number of incidences appear to be on the rise and is also becoming more rampant in developed countries as the internet has connected more buyers and sellers[4]<\/a>. In fact, the world health organization estimated that over half the internet medicines sold in 2008 were counterfeit[5]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The global market for pharmaceuticals is incredibly intricate and comprises several entities in the supply chain. This makes it particularly susceptible for bad actors to insert themselves at different points in the chain[6]<\/a>. I would argue that there are many other points in the supply chain, beyond what the arrows indicate in figure 1, where counterfeit drugs could be inserted.<\/p>\n

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Figure 1<\/p>\n

Technology is creating new business opportunities: Sproxil, Inc. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Enter Sproxil, Inc., a company founded in 2009 with the aim of \u201cempowering consumers to help combat drug counterfeiting with a simple text message[7]<\/a>.\u201d Sproxil empowers consumers by reducing the middlemen in the supply chain and giving them direct access to the manufacturer. It does this by using the cell phone which is accessible my millions of people, particularly in developing countries where the need is greatest. Sproxil developed a Mobile Product Authentication (MPA) technology that can easily and effectively identify fake drugs before consumers even leave the pharmacy.<\/p>\n

How Sproxil Works<\/strong><\/p>\n