Viagra and RFID tags

Viagra’s popularity is a known fact. Ever since its launch in 1998 by Pfizer Inc., the erectile dysfunction (ED) drug has performed miracle in the sexual life of millions of its users. The proper usage of Viagra can help in overcoming the ailment of ED to a large extent. Its effectiveness in the treatment of ED is unparallel and due to this factor, lots of dubious companies are making huge chunk of money by manufacturing fake version of it.

Due to this rising business of fake drugs, big companies like Pfizer are incurred with heavy losses as the fake versions of Viagra are available at a much cheaper price. It is a big blow for the company’s financial status as the making and manufacturing of Viagra is an expensive affair.

Therefore, to overcome this counterfeit business, Pfizer Inc., the manufacturer of Viagra has begun to ship its Viagra product with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to its customers in the U.S. It’s part of the company’s initiative to promote patient safety by combating pharmaceutical counterfeiting. Pfizer is following on the heels of Purdue Pharma, which began tagging every 100-tablet bottle of the painkiller OxyContin since 2004 for controlling the fake drug business.

The reason behind Viagra’s selection for the RFID project is because of the fact that it has been a major target for counterfeiters. The benefit of RFID tag is that it discourages counterfeiting because it is both difficult and expensive to duplicate. RFID tags incorporate the EPC into each package, case and pallet of Viagra so that pharmacists and wholesalers can use specially-designed electronic scanners to communicate the code over the internet to a secure Pfizer website.

This particular step taken by Viagra manufacturer is praise worthy as it can prevent Viagra users from buying fake version of the Erectile Dysfunction drug.