Clariant/SICPA PLASTIWARD Anti-Counterfeiting System Makes U.S. Debut

Clariant, a global provider of specialty chemicals, and SICPA SA, a provider of global security solutions, have joined forces to develop and launch PLASTIWARD, an integrated protection solution for plastic medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging.
 
Steve Duckworth, Head of Global Segment Healthcare Polymer Solutions, notes that a World Health Organization report indicates that more than 8 percent of the medical devices in circulation are counterfeit, and that Interpol estimates $75 billion in counterfeit pharmaceuticals enter the market every year. “Clearly,” he asserts, “counterfeit medical devices pose a significant liability to their manufacturers and healthcare providers, and a risk of injury, permanent disability or even death to patients. The mission of safe access to treatments remains a challenge to medical devices and pharmaceutical companies despite investments in fighting fakes. As it is well accepted that layers of security features are necessary, the unique features of PLASTIWARD can help reinforce this approach.”
 
“The counterfeiting of pharmaceutical products, including medical devices, is a silent and deadly epidemic. It attacks strong pharmaceutical brands, while sapping the trust of patients and doctors. It poses a risk for all of us,” said Fabienne Le Tadic, executive president of product and brand protection at SICPA. “We partnered with Clariant to create PLASTIWARD. This in-plastic brand protection solution helps pharma and medical device companies to protect their patients and brands.”
 
The system works like this: a proprietary covert taggant, produced by SICPA, is delivered to one of Clariant’s ISO13485-certified plants where MEVOPUR brand controlled, consistent and compliant materials are produced. There, the taggant is incorporated into the various polymers used in medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging, either in a concentrated masterbatch form, or as a finished polymer compound. The taggant then becomes part of the eventual plastic product, where it is readily detectable using SICPA’s deployment and monitoring platform.

Once the tagged product enters the distribution stream, the SICPA monitoring system is able to identify them at any point from factory to pharmacy. Products can be instantaneously authenticated at any point using a handheld detector. That data gets uploaded and aggregated on a secure inspection platform from SICPA that facilitates real-time monitoring at global, regional or local levels so that action can be taken quickly if necessary.
 
“PLASTIWARD offers medical device and pharmaceutical packaging companies a two-in-one approach,” explained Duckworth. “It combines Clariant’s track record in developing polymer compounds and masterbatches tailored to the unique requirements of clients in those sectors, with SICPA’s expertise in protecting brands and products. As part of the PLASTIWARD value proposition, our solution offers clients one seamless package comprising: security assessment, definition of their needs, security system design, system deployment and on-going performance monitoring.”
 
Today, chronic health conditions ranging from diabetes to asthma make use of portable plastic pharmaceutical packaging such as insulin pens or inhalers for targeted delivery of a treatment. Such medical devices enable millions of patients to lead active lives. An aging population in developed economies and a rising middle class in developing economies will drive demand for pharma innovation in the foreseeable future. This, in turn, will drive growth in pharmaceutical packaging and plastic medical devices. One report projects a CAGR of 6.5 percent for the global medical devices market from 2014 to 2020, rising from an estimated $61 billion in 2014 to $89 billion in 2020.¹
 
However, this strong growth has also attracted counterfeiters who are often part of organized crime syndicates producing fakes that are often very difficult to differentiate from legitimate products, often escaping customs inspections. Such products represent a financial and reputational liability for legitimate companies, and they pose a health risk for the patients who rely on them to manage a life-threatening condition.
 
Clariant is a global provider of specialty chemicals, based in Muttenz near Basel, Switzerland. The company employs a total workforce of 17,213 people. The company reports sales in four business areas: Care Chemicals, Catalysis, Natural Resources, and Plastics & Coatings.

SICPA is a global provider of security inks as well as secured identification, traceability and authentication solutions. With high-technology security inks at the core of its expertise, the company protects the majority of the world’s banknotes, security and value documents, and a wide range of consumer and industrial products. It offers solutions and services to governments and industry, ensuring product authentication, traceability and protection as well as tax reconciliation.

Reference:
1. Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market: Forecasts till 2020, MarketsandMarkets 2016.