With the implementation of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) by the Food and Drug Administration, pharmaceutical supply chain visibility has become paramount. Based on the DSCSA mandate, pharmaceutical manufacturers are required to serialize prescription drug packages at the unit level by November 27, 2024 (this is after a one year stabilization period the FDA granted in August 2023).

Under constant pressure from the FDA to enhance end-to-end traceability and recognize the paramount significance of improving patient safety and operational efficiencies, healthcare leaders are actively exploring solutions. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is a revolutionary advancement that improves the way different items are identified, tracked, and managed across the supply chain.  However, the potential advantages offered by RFID technology to improve pharmaceutical End-to-End traceability has not been widely documented. To demonstrate the benefits of this revolutionizing technology within the pharmaceutical supply chain, Michigan State University’s Axia Institute and its partners initiated a pivotal event in August 2022, marking the commencement of their Pharma Supply Chain End-to-End Pilot.