PhRMA Optimistic About Paperless Labeling Initiative

The drug industry has high hopes for its proposed electronic drug-labeling system, which can provide pharmacies with labeling changes in real-time and do away with the odd-sized paper labels that now must be affixed to the sides of medicine bottles.

PhRMA plans soon to release the results of a paperless labeling initiative that was test-marketed in approximately 200 pharmacies nationwide. An earlier proof-of-concept pilot was a "resounding success," said Alan Goldhammer, associate vice president of regulatory affairs at PhRMA. During the larger market test that took place over a three-month period in the fall of 2004, PhRMA was able to update labeling on roughly 150 products, he told the Food and Drug Law Institute's annual meeting.

"All of the labeling updates were successful [and] were up the very next day," Goldhammer said. Once the report on the initiative is available in two or three weeks, PhRMA plans to share that information with the FDA and industry and will "work toward full implementation," Goldhammer said. There is still some doubt, however, as to whether the program could be commercialized in 2006, he added.