Counterfeit med market grows worldwide

DQSA to help address global counterfeit drug market, recently estimated at more than $430 billion annually by the WHO.

Jim ButschliJim Butschli

Jan 14th, 2014

Shown in this photo is a fake Lamisil three-pack.

Shown in this photo is a fake Lamisil three-pack.

A blog on USDM Life Sciences’ website says, “Getting a prescription filled at a cheaper online pharmacy is tempting for many of us. But, if your online pharmacy is not verified, there’s a chance you are being ripped off or worse yet, putting your life in danger.”

USDM’s blog points out, “In many cases, the drugs do not have their intended ingredients in them. Patients who unknowingly obtain and use the counterfeit drugs are not getting the medical treatment they need and many unsuspecting patients are dying from the counterfeit medicines.”

A late Sept. 2013 report on google.com said that the World Health Organization estimated that the “worldwide market for counterfeit drugs topped $430 billion a year.”

Counterfeit medications are not new, yet remain alarming. For example, TheCounterfeitReport.com reports that Novartis is investigating over-the-counter “Lamisil” anti-fungal antibiotic medications sold on sites such as Amazon and eBay product that are not part of the Novartis product line and whose ingredients are unknown. Authentic and fake Lamisil products are shown on TheCounterfeitReport.com’s website.

Visit that site’s “Counterfeit Products In The News” page and you can read stories with headlines that range from “Counterfeit Medicines: The New Face Of Organized Crime” to “Hezbollah Maintains Network of Companies Trading in Counterfeit Medicine” to “Fake Flu Medicine Does Nothing, Or Worse.” Disturbing news, to be sure.

What could help is the recently signed into law, H.R. 3204, known also as the Drug Quality and Security Act.

Circling back to the USDM blog, the DQSA law “means pharmaceutical companies will have to adopt a track-and-trace system for their medicines. Individual packs of drugs will need serial numbers within four years of the bill becoming law, which is November 27, 2017. In 10 years, medicine will need to be traceable as it makes its way from the manufacturer to a pharmacy.”

Burger King® Rolls Out Green Packaging Pilot Program

Burger King® Rolls Out Green Packaging Pilot Program

Alternatives for oft-used guest-facing items will be tested, the Loop reusables program will be expanded, and partnerships with the Coca-Cola Company and Kraft Heinz will further sustainable initiatives.

Dr. R. Andrew Hurley, Associate Professor, Clemson University

Old-School Prototyping Speeds Modern Packaging Design Workflow

A five-step packaging prototype design process based on ‘old-fashioned’ tools from Dr. R. Andrew Hurley helps students reap the benefits of both physical and digital tools.

Refreshed package kicks off Cinco de Mayo for Pasote Tequila

Pasote Tequila Celebrates Cinco de Mayo with New Premium Packaging

From our companion website in Latin America, Mundo PMMI, 3 Badge Beverage Corporation has renewed the bottle and label for one of its most renowned products, Pasote Tequila, in conjunction with this traditional holiday.

How B2B can pivot to B2C operations.

The Logistics of Pivoting from B2B to B2C

The pandemic has brought swift surges to e-commerce and D2C sales. How can a traditionally B2B company quickly pivot to the B2C market during these times?

Among the personal care brands that have switched their packaging from plastic to aluminum is plant-based hair care company Eva NYC.

Specialty Personal Care Brands Embrace Aluminum

Bath and hygiene brands that target sustainability-minded consumers—ones who are less sensitive to price and more concerned about doing good—are landing on aluminum as an ‘infinitely’ recyclable plastic alternative.

Innovations in Sustainable Packaging for Confectionery & Ice Cream

Nestlé, Unilever, and Mars Wrigley pioneer technologies—such as advanced recycling, recycled-content plastic, reusable packaging, and a switch from plastic to paper—to reduce their use of virgin plastic materials. This Take Five video has the full story.

Men’s Grooming Brand L’Atelier Shelter Breaks Category Norms

Packaging for L’Atelier Shelter men’s grooming products uses a simple, dark design to convey mystery and creativity; refill packs enhance sustainability.

The package used by the Hand Wash Therapy collection is a custom, 12-oz brushed aluminum bottle from a proprietary supplier.

Aluminum Bottles, Aromatherapy Scents Elevate the Hand Wash Category

Wanting to keep the planet both pretty and healthy, premium, vegan-friendly brand Raw Sugar introduces a new aromatherapeutic hand wash line in a 100% recyclable aluminum bottle.

The liquid filling system capably handles a wide range of product viscosities.

Spicing up the Packaging of Sauces Having Varied Viscosities

When demand outstrips food packaging capacity, new equipment is the best solution. But when product viscosities vary and flavors are superb, not just any machinery will do.

The new bottles are made from 100% aluminum, with some formats containing an amount of recycled material.

Masstige Hair Care Brand Moves to Aluminum for Full Line

Plant-based hair care brand Eva NYC addresses sustainable beauty’s biggest issue—non-recyclable packaging—with vibrant, new 100% recyclable aluminum bottles.

Hershey Brazil has capitalized on digital printing of flexible film as a way of celebrating female talent during International Women’s Day.

Hershey Celebrates International Women's Day with Digital Print Campaign

At Hershey Brazil, the #HerSheGallery transforms a chocolate bar wrapper into a celebration of women, as Hershey once again uses a digital print campaign to mark International Women's Day.

Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots

Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots

Looking for automation solutions for packaging and palletizing? This is your destination for all things cobot. Whether it’s webinars, video case studies or product information, you’ll find it all in this one spot.

The custom, 10-oz bottle with shapely, rounded shoulders, is printed in a range of bright colors that align with the company’s established color palette.

New Hand Soap and Sanitizer Clean Up with Aluminum Bottle

Hand soap company Hand in Hand packs its ‘sustainable suds’ in colorful, modern aluminum bottles, a move it says helped propel a growth in sales of 1,000% YOY.

4:20 Matt Pw Title

Post-COVID Consumer Trends and Their Effect on CPGs Today | Digital Printing Lets Brands Promote Inclusion with Themed Short Runs

Today's Take Five Video: Brands are being asked to take a stance on environmental and social issues. Packaging is a great vehicle to promote those stances. Digital printing allows for short runs of timely, socially themed packs when these occasions arise.

The new 100% recyclable film, a biaxially oriented polyethylene, was three years in the making

Nature Valley is First in Snack Bar Category with 100% Recyclable Film

General Mills’ new polyethylene-based film wrap for Nature Valley Crunchy granola bars is certified to carry the How2Recycle label for Store Drop-Off systems.

Packs of bottles needed to be palletized at a rate of 14 packs per minute.

Video: Robotic Palletizers Boost Production Efficiencies at Soda Producer Radnor Hills

Award-winning UK soft drinks producer Radnor Hills installed three ABB end-of-line robotic palletizers from robotics integrator RMGroup. The move has enabled the manufacturer to benefit from process efficiencies throughout their production.

Getty Images 1126880991

A New Model for Digitizing Supply Chain Operations

Global supply chain leaders are collaborating to shape and transform next generation digital supply chain networks.

Among the new formats are a hexagonal paper tube for the Smarties Giant Tube, a multipack consisting of paper tubes held together with a label, a paper bag for small cartons of mini Smarties, and a stand-up pouch.

Nestlé Achieves ‘Paperization’ of Confectionery Packaging

Transitioning from plastic to paper for 419 SKUs of its Smarties brand chocolate candies requires extensive R&D in new materials, new package designs, equipment compatibility, and recycling potential for Nestlé.

Corona Six-Pack Carrier Employs Barley Straw Waste for Sustainable Break-Through

AB InBev and Circular Packaging

In this exclusive interview with Mundo PMMI, AB InBev's Global Director of Packaging Innovation, Keenan Thompson, explains their recent development of a truly circular packaging for its beer six-pack using barley straw as a raw material.

Contract Packaging Association Webinar

Consumer-Centric Packaging Innovation

Is packaging the product? Consumers drive package and product innovation with their decision making and trends. Recently the Contract Packaging Association discussed this intersection between innovation and consumer.

More in Home

Based on linear servo track technology, the Orboter has movers called “Probots” on which actuators can be mounted.

Wireless Network for Manufacturing Offers the Reliability of Wired IO-Link

The use of wireless in manufacturing plants is still met with a good deal of skepticism today. Much of this doubt is based on experience with traditional wireless, which is simply not reliable because it’s neither fast enough nor scalable.

Blake Griffin, senior analyst, Interact Analysis presenting on predictive maintenance strategies at PMMI's Executive Leadership Conference.

Live at the ELC: OEMs Can Monetize Predictive Maintenance

Predictive maintenance is an emerging technology for packaging and processing equipment that has the potential to disrupt the OEM business model.

Inputs for materials, equipment, and labor will be getting more expensive across the board, but a tight labor market will be the biggest limiting factor for CPGs. Automation is a great way to circumvent this.

Live at the ELC: Economic Forecast for Brands Timing Their Packaging Machinery Procurement

The U.S. and global economies are poised for a long period of expansion, meaning more consumer spending power and top line growth for brands, but also higher input prices for CPGs, including materials, machinery, and labor.

Specialty Personal Care Brands Shift from Plastic to Aluminum Packs

Specialty shampoo, soap, and conditioner brands are embracing shatter-proof, recyclable aluminum packaging in a bid to attract sustainability-minded consumers with less price sensitivity.

The first AR promo is a cheeky, immersive experience that features nine vignettes starring overripe onions, forgotten fruits, and leftover legumes.

Morton Salt’s Packaging-Based AR Experiences Seek to Erase Food Waste

Nine AR vignettes accessible through a QR code on Morton Salt’s culinary salt packaging prompts users to visit each scene, get tips, and collect recipes that use commonly wasted food items.

No automation needed to be replaced with the switch from PET to aluminum, which was good news for Nature’s Baby. The existing filling line is capable of handling the new aluminum bottles with limited adjustments.

Organic Baby Shampoo & Conditioner Brand is Latest of its Ilk to Go All-In for Aluminum

Nature’s Baby Organics is another recent entry in the shift away from plastic, and toward aluminum, for packaging of personal care and bath products, particularly specialty products with elements like vegan, organic, or cruelty-free.

Greentote by DS Smith

Packaging Trend Focus: E-commerce Channel Growth is Great Packaging Opportunity

All signs are that the e-commerce market will continue to thrive even after the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us. There is excellent opportunity for operators to find innovative ways to make online packaging both more functional and sustainable.

Winerytale is being rolled out to California wineries

Augmented Reality Packaging Innovations for CPGs, Beer and Wine Industry

Pizza Hut, and White Castle - in conjunction with Coca-Cola, are rolling out new novelty AR technology packaging, while the beer and wine industry will see options for a new virtual customer experience.

4 6 21 Pw Title

As Digitally Printed Cans Develop, Craft Brewers Still Love Labels

The pandemic made craft brewers focus on retail packaging as kegs for foodservice, restaurants, and taprooms were diminished, and cans keep gaining momentum. In this 'Take Five with Packaging World' video, we’ll look at how those cans are decorated.

Beverages are some of the most common package leaks in e-commerce.

The Challenge of Package Design for Liquids in E-commerce

The e-commerce or direct-to-consumer supply chain is particularly challenging for liquid consumer packaged goods. A collaborative effort is working to solve this problem.

Sm Graphic Cannanis Soonke

CANnabis or CAN’Tabis: Where is Cannabis Heading Amid New Administration?

Listen in as Healthcare Packaging's director of editorial content talks new directions for cannabis regulation, packaging updates, consumer behavior, and more.

The new Superfood range uses the fully recyclable K3 cardboard-plastic combination from Greiner Packaging and uses the printable reverse of the removable wrap for consumer communication.

Transparent PP Yogurt Cup with Reverse-Printed Paperboard Exterior is Fully Recyclable

Trimona Bulgarian Yogurt chose a yogurt container with an outer paperboard wrapper, easily removed for recycling, and an inner transparent PP cup. Paperboard is reverse printed for an impactful consumer communication experience inside the pack.