Europe seeks drugs for track/trace trial

Europe is preparing for a lab-scale pilot of its drug traceability system, and cost will likely be identified as a constraint, says the European Directorate on the Quality of Medicines, thanks to the volume and magnitude of the project.  

The system uses 2D data-matrix codes as unique identifiers printed on a drug's secondary packaging. Users are expected to be able to trace and verify the package at all points along the supply chain via the GS1 codes, reports Securing Pharma. Suppliers and their distribution partners access a centralized database to the use system; it does not yet provide for information exchange between partners, however.

The directorate says it has identified technical partners and expects the pilot to begin later next year. It's now seeking drugmakers that will provide sample packs of products and perhaps interconnect the system with their own IT systems.

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