Blog Archives

How Ozempic Counterfeits Demonstrate the Urgent Need for a Secure Supply Chain

Posted by bryan hanley On March 8, 2024 at 11:30 am | Comments Closed

When demands soars for prescription pharmaceuticals and supply falls short, drug pirates get to work.

The bad actors manufacture and package fake drugs to look just like the legitimate brand-name medication. And many times, these counterfeits make their way into legitimate supply chains.

Counterfeit versions of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Ozempic pose severe risks to patients worldwide, prompting CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen to collaborate with authorities in various countries to address the issue.

Various reports reveal instances of patient harm, including dangerous drops in blood sugar, after consuming fake Ozempic, highlighting the urgent need for action.

Only a secure supply chain that is under constant surveillance can keep fraudulent drugs out of the legitimate supply chain. The FDA is protecting patients from adulterated or counterfeit medications through the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).

See how Gateway Checker can help you get there.

FDA Allows Florida to Import Prescription Drugs from Canada to Alleviate High Prices

Posted by bryan hanley On January 12, 2024 at 12:21 pm | Comments Closed

Florida marks a milestone as the FDA authorizes the state to import prescription drugs from Canada to alleviate high drug prices.

This decision, resulting from bipartisan discussions and executive orders, grants Florida a two-year period to implement its drug importation program, potentially saving the state up to $183 million in the first year.

However, obstacles remain, requiring Florida to fulfill additional FDA requirements, conduct quality testing, and address potential Canadian restrictions. The FDA’s approval is a political triumph, yet the program’s impact on overall drug prices for Floridians is uncertain.

Furthermore, what will the impact be on supply integrity? Will Canadian medications imported to the US be required to comply with the enhanced traceability requirements of DSCSA? What mechanisms will be implemented to ensure authenticity of the medication? With many domestic partners struggling to adhere, its interesting to see how Canadian entities will navigate this process.

Will other states explore similar strategies to combat high drug costs? What will happen to prices as demand shifts from domestic supply to Canada?

The Importance of Anti-Counterfeiting Solutions

Posted by bryan hanley On January 11, 2024 at 11:00 am | Comments Closed

Published January 11th, 2024

The global pharmaceutical industry faces a significant challenge with counterfeit medicines, estimated to be one in 10 medical products in low- and middle-income countries, leading to a $30.5 billion spending on substandard drugs.

Counterfeit medicines, often indistinguishable from genuine ones, pose severe risks, including toxic ingredients that can be life-threatening.

The US pharmaceutical supply chain is among the safest and most secure especially when medicines are exclusively supplied through authorized trading partners. Nonetheless, recent counterfeit Ozempic and Muro 128 products remind us that risks from fake medicines remain.

To combat this, healthcare and pharmaceutical organizations must embrace innovative anti-counterfeit technology solutions, prioritizing simplicity, ease of deployment across the supply chain, and adherence to standards.

Mapping the supply chain, leveraging digital tracking, financial transaction analysis, and evaluating delivery infrastructure can identify vulnerabilities, while trusted champions in the supply chain can be crucial in verifying authenticity.

While you can’t prevent counterfeiting, you can make it harder to do, and criminals easier to catch. And this all starts with implementing a traceability solution that protects the integrity of your supply chain.

See how Gateway Checker makes this possible.