Supply chain security at CPhI: news in brief

The annual CPhI congress took place in Madrid, Spain this week and featured various updates on pharma supply chain security.

Tjoapack and Veratrak launch pharma blockchain project

Contract packaging firm Tjoapack and healthcare tech firm Veratrak have set up a blockchain programme for pharma  that focuses on using blockchain to enable collaboration across supply chain partners, reduce service lead times, and make it easier to share  information through a “secure digital chain.” The first project, which is due to be rolled out in before the end of the year, is aimed at securing the data sharing processes involved in setting up stock keeping units (SKUs) ready for packaging from product master data to artwork.

Sharp forges packaging alliance with Santen Pharma

Sharp has formed a strategic partnership with Santen Pharmaceuticals to provide pharmaceutical packaging services, including serialization, from its facility in Heerenveen in the Netherlands. Under the terms of the deal, Sharp will provide secondary packaging services for Santen’s ophthalmic products using dedicated bottle and ampoule labelling lines.

Recipharm releases first serialised products to Europe

Contract manufacturing organisation (CMO) Recipharm announced at CPhI that it has released its first serialised products to Europe from its facilities in Lisbon, Portugal and Stockholm, Sweden. It also says other its facilities across Europe will also be ready to release fully serialised products to Europe by the end of the year, two months ahead of the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) deadline in February 2019. It has already delivered over 2.5 million serialised packs to markets where serialisation regulations are in place, including China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as 500,000 packs to the US.

Tracelink adds Fareva new customers, passing 1,000 client mark

Two contract manufacturing and development organisations (CDMO) – France’s Fareva and Italy’s Doppel Farma – have chosen Tracelink to provide a serialisation system that can meet the requirements of the FMD, the latest in a new crop of customers that have taken Tracelink’s network above the 1,000 mark. “Now, with more than 270,000 trade partners exchanging data on our network, TraceLink is fueling the digitalization of the global pharmaceutical supply chain,” said the company’s CEO Shabbir Dahod.

Consort Medical unveils upgraded blister and packaging line in Monheim

Consort Medical, Aesica’s CDMO division, says it will open a new double row blister and carton packaging line in Monheim – designed by Uhlmann – that includes an automated serialization station as well as an online integrated case packer. The machine has a capacity of up to 500 blisters and 300 boxes per minute and can blister all common materials, i.e. alumina, PVC and PP. Blister filling is checked by an optical camera system and can be printed online with art work.