Bill Aimed at Preventing Stolen or Counterfeit Prescription Drugs Passes U.S. House

A bill designed to increase the security of the prescription drug supply chain, to prevent stolen or counterfeit drugs, passed the U.S. House this week.

The measure requires companies along the supply chain to verify the drugs are authentic, and notify authorities if they find suspect or illegitimate drugs, Reuters reports. Drugs would be traced down to the level of lots, which can include thousands of bottles, or packs of vials, the article notes.

A Senate version of the bill was passed by committee last month. It is not known when it will be brought to the full Senate floor. That bill would require each individual drug unit to be traceable, after an initial phase-in period.

Past measures aimed at creating national standards for drug tracking have failed after companies said they would be too expensive.