WASHINGTON – February 2, 2021 – The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global) welcomed global health care company Novartis as a new member organization today, expanding the company’s engagement on anti-falsified medicine issues online and its longstanding commitment as a member of ASOP EU.

“The addition of Novartis as ASOP Global’s newest member reaffirms one of our key founding principles – that cooperation and commitment from stakeholders across all sectors of the healthcare supply chain are critical for protecting patients and caregivers worldwide,” said Libby Baney, principal at Faegre Drinker Consulting and senior advisor to ASOP Global. “As a leading global medicines company and industry innovator, Novartis understands the important role pharmaceutical manufacturers play in combatting the world-wide problem of illegal online drug sellers and the public health and patient safety risk of substandard and falsified drugs.”

Novartis is one of the world’s largest medical treatment and therapy manufacturers. The company employs 110,000 people in 140 countries around the world and its products reach nearly 800 million people globally, further underscoring the need for comprehensive efforts to address illegal online drug sales internationally.

“Novartis is proud to partner with ASOP Global to contribute to the vital education, research and advocacy necessary to end the risks posed by substandard and falsified drugs made available via illegal online pharmacies,” said Stanislas Barro, the company’s Global Head of Anti-Falsified Medicines. “We are committed to using our voice and resources to partner with ASOP Global, ASOP EU and its members to ensure that consumers have access to safe medicines both online and off.”

Novartis joins dozens of distinguished organizations serving as ASOP Global members and observers, spanning the entire health care delivery system and internet commerce stakeholders. ASOP Global and its partners remain dedicated to educating consumers, health care professionals and policymakers about the proliferation and dangers of substandard and falsified medicines online.

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ABOUT ASOP GLOBAL

The Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global), a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. with activities in U.S., Canada, Europe, Latin America and Asia, is dedicated to protecting consumers around the world, ensuring safe access to medications and combating illegal online drug sellers.

ABOUT NOVARTIS

Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world’s top companies investing in research and development.