Study Demonstrates Digitalization of Tablets

A supply-chain simulation has demonstrated a secure, direct link between a physical tablet (placebo) and a digital backend, without having to rely on the traditional approach of authenticating traditional packaging barcodes.

The demonstration, conducted by PwC Australia, Colorcon, and TruTag Technologies, tested the mass digitalization of pharmaceutical tablets and their linkage to a Trillian-based trust ledger showing, the companies reported in a press statement, a step toward ensuring supply-chain integrity and addressing the problem of patient non-adherence.

The solution features three components: a Colorcon coating system infused with spectrally-encoded particles-or TruTags-that act as edible barcodes, a cell phone-based authentication application to decode and verify the embedded TruTags and link the physical tablet to the third component, a Trillian-based distributed ledger operated by PwC Australia.

“Verifiable data ledger technology offers a new means of securing and sharing information. However, these systems are still reliant on ensuring a secure link via a crypto anchor between the physical and digital world,” said Trent Lund, partner at PwC Australia New Ventures in a Dec. 10, 2019 press statement. “TruTags are a perfect crypto-anchor for directly marking pharmaceuticals and foods.”

“This technology represents a new era of security and transparency for the pharmaceutical industry in which patients can be empowered to authenticate their own medicines,” said Michael Bartholomeusz, chief executive officer of TruTag Technologies, in the press statement.

“Intelligent coatings represent an incredible opportunity for patient communication and data collection,” said Kelly Boyer, general manager, film coatings of Colorcon, in the press statement. “This technology represents a new era of security and transparency for the pharmaceutical industry in which patients can be empowered to authenticate their own medicines”.

The results of the demonstration have been published in a whitepaper.

Source: Colorcon