Survey reveals Pharma's progress on supply-chain challenges

USA-based Pharmaceutical Commerce and Blue Vector Systems have announced survey results reporting the US biopharmaceutical industry's progress in adopting serialization and addressing related supply chain challenges. Conducted on-line by Pharmaceutical Commerce, the Blue Vector-sponsored survey revealed that, despite the delay in California's drug pedigree legislation taking effect, the majority of respondents reported that significant planning and investment in capital projects is continuing to move forward.

Following the issue of recommendations for securing the pharmaceutical supply chain against counterfeiting by the Food and Drug Administration Counterfeit Drug Task Force in 2004, biopharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesaler-distributors, retail and hospital pharmacies, as well as related service providers, have continued to discuss, debate and even test proposed methods and technologies to ensure supply chain security, from manufacturer to patient. Despite regulatory and technical snarls - the majority of survey respondents continue to view serialization as a priority in the years ahead.

"One of the biggest problems of establishing these security systems is that they require the participation of different industries, which often have different priorities," commented Nick Basta, editor in chief at Pharmaceutical Commerce. "This level of engagement is encouraging and is occurring in the face of the State of California's decision to delay their 'e-pedigree' regulations for several years," he said.