According to research from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the use of an electronic system that authenticates individual packages while they’re on the supply chain protects both the industry and patients. The use of radio frequency identification chips (RFID) on pharmaceutical packaging has been identified by the Food and Drug Administration as the most promising technological approach to deterring counterfeit drugs. PhRMA recently released a position paper that strongly recommends advancing technology that would check if a pharmaceutical package originated with the manufacturer before it’s dispensed to a patient.

“Making double sure that a drug is authentic before a patient gets it and takes it home is vitally important,” says Billy Tauzin, PhRMA president and CEO. “And we’re close to having the technology to do it.”

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