PSM2012 – Technological Strategies: The Last Line of Defense
Anthony J. DeStefano,
Ph.D. Sr. Vice President, Compendial Science at the United
States Pharmacopeia spoke on technological strategies in protecting consumers from counterfeit medications.
DeStefano delineated the many challenges to detection. Said DeStefano, "About 80% of all active pharmaceutical ingredients are made outside the US, and detection of counterfeit or substandard products is often
impossible to detect visually."
DeStefano went on to discuss technological solutions like track and trace technology, infrared spectroscopy, portable NMR, portable GC-MS, portable x-ray diffraction, microscopes and HPLC and other traditional testing equipment. He pointed out that standardization is critical to the speed and accuracy of protecting consumers.
He concluded that coordination of efforts is critical in order to avoid
duplication of effort, missed opportunities to apply technology and gaps in technology.
"Technological strategies," said DeStefano," in all their manifestations, are
critical to success and the public expects us to succeed. We need to provide them
with the protection they expect and deserve."