News

Posted On: 11/16/2004

Pfizer, GSK and Purdue Begin RFID Tagging

The same day that FDA announced an easing of enforcement of firms pursuing RFID testing and pilots, three industry leaders came out with major RFID initiatives.

Pfizer said it plans to incorporate RFID tags into all cases and retail packages of Viagra by the end of 2005. Viagra was chosen, the company said, because it has been one of the most counterfeited drugs in the U.S. Lessons learned from the Viagra experiment will be applied to implementing RFID in other product lines. While the company does not expect to see immediate cost benefits from the move, it believes it will go a long way toward ensuring consumer safety.

Pfizer will use RFID as part of a multifaceted anti-counterfeiting approach that also includes color-shifting inks and innovative barcoding.

Purdue Pharma announced that it will begin tracking and tracing its painkiller OxyContin, which has been victim to counterfeiting, and Palladone, another painkiller that has received FDA approval and will be introduced in 2005.

GlaxoSmithKline, meanwhile, announced that it will begin using RFID tags in the next year to 18 months on at least one of its products—Retrovir, Combivir, Ziagen, and Zofran are a few of the likely candidates. The technology will be used in combination with holograms and other special markings to ensure supply chain security. The company has already experienced success in the experimental usage of RFID tags on some consumer healthcare products.