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. 2013 Jan-Mar;81(1):1-13.
doi: 10.3797/scipharm.1202-03. Epub 2012 Oct 9.

Anti-counterfeit technologies: a pharmaceutical industry perspective

Dipika Bansal  1 , Swathi Malla, Kapil Gudala, Pramil Tiwari
Affiliations

Anti-counterfeit technologies: a pharmaceutical industry perspective

Dipika Bansal et al. Sci Pharm. 2013 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Growth of international free trade and inadequate drug regulation have led to the expansion of trade in counterfeit drugs worldwide. Technological protection is seen to be the best way to avoid this problem. Different technologies came into existence like overt, covert, and track and trace technologies. This review emphasises ideal technological characteristics, existing anti-counterfeit technologies, and their adoption in different countries. Developed countries like the USA have implemented RFID while the European trend is towards 2D barcodes. The Indian government is getting sensitised about the extent of the problem and has formulated rules mandating barcodes. Even the pharmaceutical companies have been employing these technologies in order to detain illegitimate drugs in their supply chain.

Keywords: Anti-counterfeit technology; Authentication; Pedigree; RFID; Serialization.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Example of a serialized national drug code
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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