Serialization has become a powerful tool in the fight against counterfeit medicines within the official healthcare supply chain. However, its effectiveness diminishes outside regulated distribution channels — where a serial number is often just a number, easily duplicated or faked. As digital marketplaces and direct-to-patient delivery models become more prominent, the need for robust authentication methods grows. This session will explore the limitations of serialization alone and highlight strategies for adding new layers of protection that extend beyond traditional supply chain boundaries. In this session, you will learn how to:

• Distinguish between identification and authentication, and why both are critical in today’s evolving drug distribution landscape.
• Assess the vulnerabilities of serialized products outside the official healthcare network.
• Position your organization to stay ahead of counterfeit risks in decentralized, digital-driven distribution environments.