NFC packaging tackles pharma counterfeiting

Counterfeiting of pharmaceutical products has been driving renewed interest in NFC-enabled secondary packaging as the industry faces tighter regulation.

According to MM Pharma & Healthcare Packaging, the arrival of Digital Product Passports and intensified scrutiny from the FDA and EU pharmaceutical reform.

The scale of the problem is significant. Operation Pangea XVII by Interpol in 2025 seized more than 50 million illegal medication doses worth 65 million USD, dismantling 123 criminal groups involved in infiltrating pharmaceutical markets, including GLP-1-related injectables.

NFC technology enables short-range, encrypted communication via smart devices to tie product authenticity to packaging integrity, complementing RFID's role in supply chain traceability. MM Pharma and Healthcare Packaging integrates NFC readers directly into manufacturing lines to capture data, verify accuracy and generate reports, allowing brand owners to track products and receive alerts if tampering or unauthorized scanning is detected at any geographic location.

NFC chips can be embedded between carton layers, with the first interaction permanently recorded to detect chip reuse or cloning. Tamper-evident features can be combined with NFC antennas to prevent refilling of injectable pens with unapproved substances. Two-stage authentication configurations allow manufacturer-accessible internal NFC to be locked after aggregation, with a patient-facing visible NFC trust mark verifiable by smartphone at point of use.

Patient-facing applications are also advancing. Smart labels now deliver spoken instructions for those with visual impairments, content in multiple languages and dynamic font resizing. Electronic blister packs can record the date and time each cavity is opened for patients with cognitive challenges.

'When key stakeholders are involved early in the design process, patient confidence can be instilled from day one,' the company notes. 'NFC-enabled smart packaging may hold the key, but only a connected ecosystem with the same goals has the capability to unlock it.'