What security strategies is Novartis using?
We have a multi-pronged approach. Wherever there’s a counterfeit problem, even if it’s not our products, we try and develop some intelligence sources. And we monitor what the other companies are doing and the problems they’re having because if somebody’s having a problem in a particular country, we can guess that we’re going to have a problem eventually. We develop contacts with the law enforcement, the regulatory and the health authorities so that we’re not strangers when we walk in the door when there is an issue. In addition to that, we’re trying to support the judiciary all the way through because the worst thing that a company can do is walk away after the arrest or the seizures and not worry about the prosecution. So we try and hold their hands through the whole process. We had a major case in the Middle East recently and we got them convicted after a major effort and everybody’s congratulating themselves and then [the criminals] got three month sentences. Are counterfeit drugs a
