Honeywell India has announced digital authentication technology to prevent counterfeit pharmaceutical products in India.

The solution comprises a digital code that is embedded in the packaging of pharmaceutical products. The end user can validate the authenticity of the product by scanning the digital code with the help of a smartphone letting the end user know it is safe to use. The software that validates the product’s authenticity through a database is accessible through a Honeywell app available for download for iOS and Android users and gathers market intelligence. 

An acute shortage of drugs to treat symptoms of COVID-19 has led to increased circulation of counterfeit medicines in recent times. There are reports of fake antiviral medicines and spurious injectable immunosuppressant in the market, jeopardizing the lives of COVID-19 patients, and even leading to fatalities. 

Interpol’s Operation Pangea reported a rise in fake medical products related to the pandemic, with 4.4 million units valued at Us $14 million having been seized in 2020 alone. Worryingly, counterfeiting is not restricted to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines alone. Per one report, 10% of drugs in circulation in low- and middle-income countries are either counterfeit or substandard. 

“Honeywell is deploying its authentication technology for the pharmaceutical industry in response to the growing menace of counterfeit products,” said Hitesh Mehta, General Manager, Advanced Materials, Honeywell India. “Our sophisticated authentication technologies feature printing and substrates which can be easily identified but are difficult to alter and duplicate. Our technology offers brand protection for manufacturers and assurance of authentic products for end users.”