Strategies to Combat Counterfeit Drugs and Other Supply Chain Threats

• OVERVIEW

Counterfeit drugs present a real and increasing danger both to patients and companies and require a proactive approach to stay ahead of them.

• LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• This webinar is designed to provide an overview of the problem of counterfeit drugs and suggest ways to combat it, some that have been employed for years and others that have been developed more recently..
• The challenge in preventing counterfeit drugs from infiltrating the supply chain is to make it airtight, and the verification methods sound, so fakes can be identified easily. However, the gains from counterfeiting are so attractive, and the punishments often so light, that many criminals, including those trafficking illegal drugs, continue to devise new and more elaborate schemes to peddle their fake or stolen products.

• WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND
• It is hard enough to detect errors in the entire process of manufacturing and distributing one’s own pharmaceutical products, but Pharma companies must also address the challenge of counterfeit medications that at best are ineffective and at worst are deadly. Legitimate drugs can be diverted, or fake drugs can be created completely parallel with and invisible to your own supply chain, with their own distribution networks deliberately made complex to disguise them. Looking at the problem in its entirety can be overwhelming and frightening to pharma professionals and especially to consumers, who trust companies to provide them with safe and effective medications. Typical headlines illustrating the trend include: “Maryland Man Charged With Manufacturing And Selling Fake Xanax Since 2013,” “Fake paracetamol (aka Tylenol or acetaminophen) in Philippines,” “Police Seize Hundreds Of Thousands Of Fake Pills In South Carolina And Two Presses,”“The Motorcycle Gang Behind Philly's Biggest Pill Mill,” and on and on. The culprits could be your neighbors or a criminal entity operating halfway around the world. This trend is likely to increase because those involved in counterfeiting drugs are many, and laws have not caught up to the gravity of the problem.
• Adding to the counterfeit issue is the problem of drugs that are diverted from the supply chain. Diversion can occur from the company’s warehouse to the hospital immediately before a dose is administered to a patient, highlighting the challenges of identifying exactly where a drug is compromised.
• There are many best practices that can be implemented right now. Some do not carry a hefty price tag and depend on where your company sees vulnerabilities. Learn about these in this webinar.
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• AREAS COVERED

The problem

• Counterfeits
• Diversion of legitimate product
• Risks to patients
• Risks to companies

Solutions

• Assigning a dedicated individual or group in your organization to monitor the security of your supply chain
• Lessons learned
• Thefts at manufacturing facilities
• Thefts during warehousing and distribution

Working with regulatory agencies, industry organizations, international agencies such as the WHO, and law enforcement (e.g., Interpol) to identify and combat fakes

• Current initiatives
• Benefits to Pharma companies

Incorporating design elements into your packaging to make counterfeiting more difficult

• Barcoding
• Holographs

Using verification methods at different points in the supply chain to ensure the integrity of your product

• Identify most vulnerable areas
• Cost-benefit considerations

Taking advantage of new technologies

• Blockchain
• Apps

Review of learning objectives

WHO WILL BENEFIT?

The pharmaceutical industry, particularly those employees in the Supply Chain, including:

• Product Security
• Packaging and Labeling
• Manufacturing, and Warehousing and Distribution

• SPEAKER

Michael Esposito has 30 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry and 13 years experience in GMP training and document management. He has worked for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division in a variety of areas including Packaging, project administration, Quality Assurance, Government Contracts, translations, systems training, and international operations.