Pharmaceutical product anti-counterfeiting
The World Health Organisation estimates that 10% of drugs dispensed around the world are counterfeit. In the third world the problem of fake drugs is huge, their consequences dire, and publicity limited:
• sterile injectable products containing harmful bacteria will kill
• tablets to treat severe pain in cancer are ineffective
• vaccines containing 'antifreeze' will provide no protection
• contraceptive pills and anti-malarial tablets made of sugar and paste will bring false hope.
In the West we feel well protected against counterfeit drugs, as our systems and law enforcement are largely effective: Customs confiscate, police prosecute perpetrators and lawyers create legislation to close loopholes through which counterfeiters operate. However, as a recent example from the USA shows:
• counterfeit drugs are present in even the most sophisticated markets
• counterfeiters are creative, skilled and devious - they can fake new pharmaceutical packages and presentations within days
• criminals do not concern themselves with the consequential damage to users.
For companies manufacturing and marketing high-value branded pharmaceutical products, the consequences of counterfeit drugs are severe. These include loss of revenue, loss of public confidence in their products, costs of liability and legal issues, costs to establish overt and covert security measures to eliminate counterfeit products; as well as establishing and maintaining monitoring programs to identify counterfeit products and their entry points into the supply chain.
Ensuring the right product gets to the right place
How can we increase control over the distribution channel to ensure the right product gets to the right place for the patient/consumer?
PA Consulting Group has devised an anti-counterfeiting method by which all products can be authenticated at the point of dispensing, thereby ensuring the product is genuine.
This product authentication methodology, supported by a range of existing anti-counterfeiting technologies, will allow the pharmacist dispensing the product to know with certainty that the manufacturer has authenticated the product, batch and even the compliance with storage conditions and shelf-life constraints.
This product authentication solution provides a compelling business case:
• patient safety is secured, avoiding costly damages that might result through litigation, and enhancing the company brand image
• the opportunities to control the distribution channel provided by these technologies can revolutionize the existing supply processes, providing huge commercial benefit
PA's unique capability in delivering complex cross-company programs makes us the partner of choice for this development.
Further information
If you would like to discuss this topic further, under cover of mutual confidentiality agreements, and discover how PA's technology could be developed for your own organization, please contact us on +44 1763 267133 or by e-mail at lifesciences@paconsulting.com.
