Ending the Reign of Fake Drugs: The Coder's Revolutionary Approach
IT security solutions company, The Coder, has presented an innovative solution using its proprietary DOT (Data on Things) technology to address the issue of counterfeit and fake pharmaceuticals, highlighted in the recent 2024 Special 301 Report by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The Special 301 Report is an annual publication by the USTR that evaluates intellectual property (IP) protection, identifies trade barriers, and promotes international cooperation to strengthen global IP protection, thereby safeguarding American businesses and consumers. According to the report, Pfizer pharmaceuticals have experienced several instances of counterfeiting in recent years, with a significant number of cases reported in 2023 and 2024. Harmful substances found in these counterfeits include road marking paint containing lead, brick dust, floor polish, and boric acid, posing severe health risks to patients. The major issue is that consumers find it difficult to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit medicines. In response, The Coder has suggested applying its DOT technology to pharmaceuticals, enabling consumers to easily verify the authenticity of their medications, and helping pharmaceutical companies to tackle counterfeiting throughout the distribution process. The proposal includes embedding DOT codes directly onto pharmaceutical packaging and pills to prevent counterfeiting. The Coder's DOT technology involves embedding unique, non-replicable digital codes into various objects. These codes are invisible to the naked eye, making them difficult to target and damage. Additionally, it has better damage recovery capability than QR codes, resulting in a higher recognition rate. By embedding DOT authenticity codes on pharmaceutical packaging, consumers can instantly verify the authenticity using a dedicated app. Simultaneously, pharmaceutical companies can track the distribution of their products, and identify the region where counterfeit reports have been made. Additionally, the technology can be applied directly to the pills. By scanning the pill with the app, consumers can access information such as packaging date, expiration date, ingredients, manufacturer details, efficacy, and potential side effects. Park Haeng-woon, CEO of The Coder, stated, "Our technology can proactively address the growing global issue of counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Through this, we will work to strengthen our technology to protect consumer health and enhance the credibility of the pharmaceutical industry." The Coder recently signed an MOU with Mindmatics in Malaysia to develop customized tax stamps for the Malaysian market. The Coder has been recognized for its innovative technology and achievements over the years. In 2019, the company received the NET (New Excellent Technology) certification from the Korean government for its DOT-based encoding and anti-counterfeiting technology, tailored to the physical properties of various materials. In 2023, The Coder’s smart paper, capable of identifying counterfeit products through DOT codes, was awarded the NEP (New Excellent Product) certification. This year, the same smart paper technology was designated as an Excellent Product for Government Procurement, further validating its excellence and reliability. 박원중 기자 (park.wonjun.ja@gmail.com)revolutionary approach tackle counterfeiting counterfeiting in enabling consumers
