The US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a pilot project to use blockchain technology to enhance the tracking and authentication of prescription drugs and restrict the flow of illegitimate products from entering the food and drugs supply chain.

Scott Gottlieb, FDA Commissioner, has stated that the FDA is continuously exploring innovative ways of enhancing the traceability and transparency of the drug supply chain. He has further disclosed the appointment of Frank Yiannas, a technology expert in the global supply chain, to work on advanced technologies like blockchain and empower the US food supply.

The DSCSA pilot project is aimed at exploring and evaluating more efficient processes that will be in compliance with the drug supply chain security regulations. It is expected that the pilot will help in identifying the most needed attributes for improved tracking and authentication of drugs.