Pharmaceutical Executive-03-01-2005

Pharmaceutical Executive

From the Editor

March 01, 2005

From the Editor

In the drug safety debate, we're hearing plenty of potential solutions. They're smart and advance desirable goals. There's just one thing wrong with them: They don't solve the problem.

More Than Just a Pretty Color

March 01, 2005

Features

In an ideal world, an anti-counterfeit solution would provide protection throughout the supply chain, allow for easy product identification by physicians, pharmacists, and patients, be easily implemented without ongoing costs-and improve brand image and marketability while it's at it. Yet most current anti-counterfeiting measures involve packaging technologies such as holograms, inks, bar codes and radio frequency ID (RFID) that, although useful, cannot ensure the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain, because drugs do not remain in their original packaging. Legitimate repackaging regularly occurs in the pharmacy and elsewhere, and authentic packaging-recycled or stolen-can contain adulterated, counterfeited drugs.

Washington Report: The Main Event Begins

March 01, 2005

Washington Report

Should policy makers expect 90 percent of seniors to enroll in PDPs, or will 75 percent be enough? Will the program have to keep costs down to $400 billion a year, or will spending be linked to savings elsewhere?

TOC

March 01, 2005

Pharm Exec talks to the newly appointed leaders of the industry's most influential advocacy organizations.