Counterfeit drugs analysis

Malvern Panalytical has produced an application note entitled NIR chemical imaging for tablet deconstruction: a case study for solid dosage forms to demonstrate how data derived from reverse engineering of pharmaceutical tablets can aid the fight against counterfeit drugs. Using the SyNIRgi near infrared chemical imaging system, they have been able to collect data detailed enough to characterise the formulation and processes used to create individual dosages. Results can be compared to both the original manufacturer specifications and a database of known counterfeits.