IBM prepares RFID to combat knockoff drugs

IBM prepares RFID to combat knockoff drugs    IBM said last week it has developed a preliminary radio frequency identification system for tracking and tracing pharmaceuticals.
   The Food and Drug Administration has identified RFID as a preferred method of meeting long-delayed federal requirements for industry to document the chain of custody of medicines from manufacturer to the pharmacy shelf. About 8 percent of the world’s drug prescriptions turn out to be counterfeit. Drugs can change hands up to 10 times as they pass from supplier through drug wholesalers and distributors to the retailer and, finally, the patient.
   The short-range RFID tags store and electronically transmit an ID number that can be linked to database information such as dosage, strength, lot number, manufacturer and expiration date. Medical personnel can use information to identify products and whether any tampering occurred. The electronic tags can be placed on products at the unit, case and pallet level.
   IBM will conduct a trial test of the system along with Cardinal Health to determine its effectiveness in real world activity.
   The FDA has said it plans to phase in enforcement of the record-keeping requirement by focusing on products most susceptible to counterfeiting and diversion.
   Last year Pfizer announced plans to place RFID tags on all bottles of Viagra intended for sale in the United States. GlaxoSmithKline has said it intends to begin using RFID tags on at least one product susceptible to counterfeiting. And Purdue Pharma said it will use the electronic transmitters on bottles of pain relievers OxyContin and Palladone.