Banner Pharmacaps

Sept. 7, 2005
Special Gelcaps Protect Against Counterfeiting and Tampering
Banner Pharmacaps Soflet Gelcaps can serve as a redundant safeguard with Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) to help prevent counterfeiting of many susceptible tablet products. Soflet Gelcaps, a consumer-preferred dosage form, is a patented enrobing technology that provides tamper-evident security for valuable brand franchises at a cost of only pennies per tablet.The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that counterfeit drugs cause more than 100,000 deaths a year worldwide. According to Med Ad News (November, 2004) the pharmaceutical industry lost about $2 billion in 2003 to counterfeit drug sales, with a projected loss of up to $68 billion by 2009 unless stronger security measures are initiated.The Soflet Gelcaps technology, originated by Banner, provides excellent security backup because of the complex manufacturing process that puts a tightly adhering gelatin film around the tablet core, producing a tamper-evident, and tamper-resistant shield. “Our motivation in creating Soflet Gelcaps was to produce an easier-to-swallow coating that also provided good protection for the active ingredients,” said Roger Gordon, President and CEO of Banner. “We’re gratified that our coating can also serve as added security against counterfeiting and adulteration at a very modest cost.”An FDA task force report issued in October, 2003 calls for implementation of track-and-trace technologies like RFID, and suggests that redundant security measures are more effective than single measures.