GlaxoSmithKline [NYSE: GSK] today announced that it will begin using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in the next 12 to 18 months on at least one product deemed susceptible to counterfeiting in order to more effectively monitor its progress from the company to the patient. GSK is partnering in this pilot project with the US Food and Drug Administration, which is encouraging the use of RFID technology to protect American patients from the growing risk of counterfeit and diverted medicines.
RFID technology can track, trace, and authenticate medicines throughout the distribution system. The technology uses tiny microchip and antenna units capable of storing and transmitting information, and will expand GSK's existing anti-counterfeiting practices that include overt and covert security devices on packages such as holograms and other special markings.
GSK's priority candidates for the tags are Retrovir®, Combivir®, Epivir®, Trizivir®, Ziagen® and Zofran®. The medicines are among those designated by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacies as being susceptible to adulteration, counterfeiting or diversion. “GSK has developed a strategy across all business units to use this technology to protect patients as well as to improve accuracy and efficiency in our work,” said David Pulman, President of Global Manufacturing and Supply for GSK.
The company has already implemented RFID tags on some consumer healthcare products and within its research laboratories. In its Consumer Healthcare division, GSK tags all pallets shipped to a central distribution center for Metro, a German retailer, and plans to tag pallet and cases to Wal-Mart's Texas distribution centers by late January. In R&D, GSK has developed innovative uses of RFID to track and verify patient packs before distribution, and to simplify critical business processes.
"We absolutely agree with the FDA that an electronic product code will help fight counterfeit drugs. But this technology still requires development of industry-wide standards so that we can share information in a meaningful way,” Pulman said. GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information, visit GlaxoSmithKline on the World Wide Web at http://www.gsk.com.
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