An Introduction To The Challenges Presented By Product Codification & Serialization In The Pharmaceutical Sector

By Darren Atkinson 

It is well recognized that the counterfeiting of pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices is a real and constant threat to patient safety. It is a global issue that affects all of us. It doesn’t recognize borders or trade agreements and its supply chain is fast to react to new opportunities and, in particular, weaknesses in the legitimate production and supply of medicines and devices.

Understandably many patients are ignorant of the true risk, and therefore the pharmaceutical industry cannot afford to be complacent. It is safe to say that in recognition of these risks, the industry has developed over many years a variety of anti-counterfeit strategies both covert and overt. They range from sophisticated pack design & labeling using special inks, holograms, tamper evident seals and on-dose nano particles, to field agents actively investigating instances of counterfeit product.