State boards and NABP pilot Pulse to detect counterfeit meds as DSCSA deadlines approach
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Summary
Josh Bolan of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy described a DSCSA‑compliant digital directory, Pulse, and said early scans using the tool helped identify illegitimate GLP‑1 products. The subcommittee heard that improved electronic tracing and state use of Pulse can reduce counterfeit entries and help manage shortages.
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy told a House subcommittee that new digital tools tied to the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) are beginning to give regulators and trading partners better visibility into the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain and have already helped identify illegitimate and counterfeit products in the field.
Josh Bolan of NABP described Pulse, a DSCSA‑aligned platform launched in January that acts as a directory of manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies and enables scanning and verification of serialized saleable units. Bolan said that scans conducted with Pulse helped Arkansas and Mississippi boards of pharmacy detect illegitimate GLP‑1 medications that had entered the legitimate supply chain.
Why it matters: the DSCSA requires product serialization and interoperable data sharing to prevent dangerous or counterfeit medicines from reaching patients. Witnesses said longer implementation timelines raise the risk that illicit products will circulate; conversely, broader adoption of DSCSA tools by states and trading partners can help detect and remove bad product and support recalls.
Highlights from testimony: - Pulse is being offered at no cost to state boards and pharmacies; NABP reported expansion to nearly 30 states and said the platform assisted regulatory action in multiple states. - Bolan warned about illegal online pharmacies and identified the med‑spa example discussed in testimony where nonsterile compounding and foreign‑sourced APIs were used outside of regulated channels. - Witnesses told members that while serialization generates massive volumes of data (estimated billions of transactions annually), practical directory tools and regulator access are necessary to make the DSCSA effective in the field.
Ending: Members and witnesses urged faster DSCSA adoption and additional resources for state regulators so the tracing architecture can be used to detect counterfeits and improve supply reliability. The DSCSA phased deadlines remain a near‑term implementation milestone the committee will monitor.