A Shift In Focus: The Value Of Serialization

By Trisha Gladd, Editor, Life Science Connect

By Trisha Gladd, editor, Pharmaceutical Online and Bioresearch Online

When it comes to the topic of serialization and California’s 2015 deadline, much of the discussion focuses on cost and compliance. What are the costs associated with preparing your company for California’s ePedigree Law? With a history of delays in this law, as well as a federal mandate, is preparation even necessary?

Despite the ticking of the clock, many pharmaceutical manufacturers still haven’t begun preparations because of the millions of dollars it would take to do so. Very few want to invest time and money into something they view as uncertain.

However, experts agree that there is more value to the investment than regulatory compliance. With a shift in focus from cost to value, manufacturers could begin to view serialization not as a cost center but as a way to ensure the safety of their consumer and the sustainability of their brand.

As Ron Guido, former VP of global brand protection and supply chain integrity at Johnson & Johnson, puts it, “The value of serialization far outweighs the cost of compliance. It’s just a matter of adjusting your outlook.”

Protecting the Patient Through Brand Protection

At the center of the serialization discussion is patient safety. With pharmaceuticals being one of the most targeted categories by counterfeiters, the liability is tremendous. How a brand is valued in the marketplace and how it delivers on the outcomes expected by the consumer depend on the security and integrity of the supply chain from which a medication is manufactured and delivered.