WHO tells a story “By April 1999, reports of 771 cases of substandard drugs had been entered into the WHO database on counterfeit drugs, 77% of which were from developing countries. (Data analysis showed that in 60% of the 325 cases for which detailed data were available, an active ingredient was lacking.)”Bad medicines don't just threaten lives; they undermine the entire medical system.
What is being done?
There are distinct aspects to deciphering and de-complexifying the counterfeit pharmaceutical supply chain. One that is probably more in use today by almost all pharmaceutical companies worldwide is the product-based tracking methodology which incorporates the use of high technology systems to identify counterfeit products in the market. These technologies include tamper-evident packaging, holographics, bar codes and the more recent RFID.
Indian Scenario
People buy two tablets and never a strip. The unique number idea doesn’t work here.
Chemists know that they are buying counterfeit drugs- they get better margins on them.
Chemists don’t want to find out whether they are selling counterfeit drugs?- Barcode thing doesn’t work here. Same stuff with hologram and all.
Interventions are required at the distributor level or best at the consumer level.
Roger Bate says “According to an investigation I just conducted with the Legatum Institute and the International Policy Network, the situation is as bad with at least some of Delhi's wholesalers. We found that 7% of all tested samples were substandard and 3.6% were likely counterfeit. It's probable that the drug supply in poorer areas is even more contaminated.
I believe in Simplicity….
Solutions should be uncomplicated - According to a study published by researchers of the University of Lleida (UdL) in the scientific journal Sensors, the sensor of some optical mice can be used to easily and cheaply detect counterfeit euros – Something like this for Drugs packaging can be great!!! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091117094935.htm
Or;
If we really have to go that precise in judging counterfeit and fake drugs, there is a specific way out for which testing centers can be set up. We all know about Raman spectroscopy- I know it from our chemistry labs. The investigators describe development of a new form of Raman spectroscopy, a mainstay tool for identifying molecules, which can probe deep layers of material that are well beyond the reach of conventional Raman spectroscopy. The method, spatially offset Raman spectroscopy, can analyze through paper packaging, plastic containers, capsule shells, and tablet coatings to verify the ingredients in a pharmaceutical product, the researcher’s state. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/01/070129140741.htm
Innovative Transponders-The Radiopharm Project -The most innovative is the tagging of transponders on item-level (incl. write and read processes), not only on case or pallet level. It was aimed to get an identification of every single transponder, despite the disturbing influences of liquids and metals. This requirement creates new challenges, especially for the RFID technology that occurs in the pharmaceutical area. The co-workers of the IFT built a test rig for multiple test scenarios as a demonstrator to proof the technical realization of the developed system.
With this test rig, it can be determined if the transponders could be reliably accessed independent from the dosage form (like liquids, tablets, ointments), both for item identification and bulk identification. As a result, it is possible not only to illustrate a production line of a pharmaceutical manufacturer, but also the verification process after order picking at the wholesaler. By the use of these systems customers will have a higher security when buying drugs.
In the SWOT analysis of Big Pharma majors, Counterfeit was reflected as a common problem. I just finished working on a Counterfeit drug detection model. Cost per counterfeit drug test Rs 1 only.
Interested Companies/researchers can reach me at drruchibhatt@gmail.com.