In its latest initiative to promote patient safety by combating pharmaceutical counterfeiting, US-based pharmaceuticals manufacturer Pfizer Inc. has begun to ship its first product containing RFID tags to its customers in the United States.

     RFID technology is being added to the packaging of a particular product line (which we won''t mention by name for fear of triggering e-mail filters and web content firewalls everywhere, but it''s brand name begins with ''V'') in the USA to enable pharmacies and wholesalers to verify the product''s electronic product code on the packaging. That particular product was apparently selected for the RFID project because it has been a major target for counterfeiters. 116.30.142.201 This article is copyright 2006 UsingRFID.com.

Safety first, then money
     Pfizer has invested several million dollars to date in the technology, which discourages counterfeiting because it is both difficult and expensive to duplicate. RFID tags incorporate the EPC into each package, case and pallet of the drug. Pharmacists and wholesalers will use electronic scanners that communicate the code over the internet to a secure Pfizer website.

     "The primary goal for adding the technology is to enhance patient safety," said Tom McPhillips, vice president of Pfizer''s US Trade Group, who did not make specific mention of the potentially huge financial damage that counterfeit drugs are also responsible for.

Tracking later, but still anonymous
     The company''s application of RFID is not yet capable of "tracking and tracing" medicines through the distribution system. Track and trace requires that all parts of the supply chain invest in compatible technology and agree to capture and share information about product movement. Pfizer will continue to explore the uses of this technology - including track and trace - during the coming year.

Pfizer wants to make it absolutely clear that its application of RFID to this product line does not allow for the collection of any patient information.

Standards efforts
     The company says it is working cooperatively with standards setting bodies, state governments, the FDA, industry groups and its customers to establish policies for the widespread application of RFID in the future. But, while the technology offers great promise as an anti-counterfeiting tool, it alone will not eliminate drug counterfeiting. Pfizer believes the problem must be addressed on many different fronts, including tightening state regulations for the licensing and distribution of pharmaceutical products, modifying business practices, increasing enforcement, and using technology effectively.

     Pfizer anticipates that it will take several years before RFID is applied broadly throughout the pharmaceutical industry. Cost will be a significant consideration, as well as the readability and reliability of RFID tags. Standards must be developed to govern technology and data exchange. And RFID also will require the pharmaceutical distribution industry to change the way it does business.

 

 

 

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