Anticounterfeiting

TruTag Technologies, a spinout of Cellular Bioengineering Inc., was named the 2010 North American Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Innovation of the Year by Frost & Sullivan. TruTag microtags are optically encoded microcrystals made of pure, nanoporous silica. Deemed Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) by FDA, the TruTags are edible and can be used to authenticate medicine.

SecureTrace reports that pilot runs of an electronic drug tracking and authentication program have been successfully completed. SecureTrace is a consortium of 10 companies in the United Kingdom that are using technology to fight counterfeiting and diversion of pharmaceuticals throughout the supply chain.

Covectra (Southborough, MA) is offering a new multi-layered approach to anti-counterfeiting and diversion control to a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, luxury goods, automotive, electronics, and premium beverages. Covectra has made available its new smartphone technology application, Brand Loyalty and Integrity Services (BLIS). The application provides data analysis features that can be used by manufacturers and brand owners to provide increased security, monitor consumer purchase patterns, and provide brand promotional opportunities.

NanoGuardian (Skokie, IL) enters into a license agreement with Capsugel (Peapack, NJ), a division of Pfizer Inc., to provide Capsugel global access to NanoGuardian’s NanoEncryption technology for the protection of capsule-based medications against counterfeiting and illegal diversion. NanoGuardian’s NanoEncryption technology works directly on capsules, tablets, vial caps, and singleuse syringes to provide a layered security strategy consisting of overt, covert and forensic security features.

Editor's Note: While preparing January PMP News's Track and Trace column for the 5th year in a row, Nosco's Gregg Metcalf realized that the pharmaceutical industry has come full circle. His first few articles focused on anticounterfeiting, and then he shifted to track-and-trace and e-pedigree as retailers and legislators did. Given worldwide increases in counterfeiting, today's focus is again on anticounterfeiting along with serialization without pedigree. Read on for a quick recap of past events and for ideas on building your product-protection strategies for 2010.

FDA is warning consumers about counterfeit Alli reportedly sold over the Internet. Testing by manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline has revealed that the fake products contain the controlled substance sibutramine, not contain orlistat, the active ingredient in its product. FDA warns that this fake version of Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill kit) could be harmful if used improperly.

While the counterfeit Alli product looks similar to the authentic product, there are "a few notable differences" in its packaging, FDA reports. According to the agency, the counterfeit Alli has:

Threats to the safety and security of some of our most common pharmaceuticals are growing.

By David Howard
Chair, International Authentication Association (IAA)
 

ARmark Authentication Technologies LLC (Glen Rock, PA) and Colorcon Inc. (West Point, PA) have entered into an alliance in the development and introduction of Mark On-Dose ID, an authentication technology that incorporates microscopic covert micro-tags into the immediate-release film coatings of solid oral dosage forms to prevent counterfeiting. By using Colorcon’s tablet coating experience and ARmark's customized micro-tag authentication technology, the two companies are collaborating to develop Mark On-Dose ID.

Securikett Ulrich & Horn GmbH (Austria) offers brand protection via complex labeling solutions aimed to fight counterfeiting. In June, Securikett won First Prize in the “Security” category at the international FINAT awards for its Sumitomo Void label, a tamper-evident seal for plastic bottles with high-ranking authentication features. The label was designed to protect Japan-based Sumitomo’s agricultural medicines in plastic bottles against tampering, refill, and counterfeiting in Turkey.

Ben Van Houten

N'Crypt from Alcan Packaging is a high-security printing technique for blister foils.