Pharma Authenticate App - Digital Package Inserts with Blockchain Security
Sector: Tertiary sector · Industry: Pharmaceutical sales and services · Organisation: Blockchain Reallabor · Maturity level: Concept
The Pharma Authenticate App enables pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide secure digital instructions for use via QR codes on medication packaging. Patients can scan the code to access tamper-proof package inserts in various languages, protected by blockchain technology from manipulation. The use case is currently in demo status at the Blockchain Reallabor in the Rhineland region.
Documentation status
- Project status: Concept
- Evidence: Evidence medium
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
The Blockchain Reallabor Huerth developed a demo app called Pharma Authenticate, which enables the authenticity of medicines to be verified directly via smartphone. The app demonstrates how blockchain technology can directly enable consumer protection for medicines.
Since 2019, the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (Directive 2011/62/EU) requires all prescription medicines to carry a 2D data matrix code and a tamper-evident seal. Verification in the EU is carried out via the EMVS (European Medicines Verification System) — a central database. The blockchain alternative: authenticity data is stored not centrally but on a tamper-proof blockchain. The Pharma Authenticate app from the Blockchain Reallabor demonstrates this concept: the user scans the QR code or barcode on the medicine packaging; the app checks against the manufacturer’s blockchain entries; the result (genuine/unknown/suspicious) appears within seconds. Additional benefit: recall notifications can be sent directly to app users who have scanned an affected medicine. The Blockchain Reallabor is the only public research and demonstration centre for blockchain applications in NRW.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
Pharmaceutical companies can securely and cost-effectively provide their product information digitally, reducing printing and distribution costs for physical package leaflets. The blockchain-based solution enhances brand trust through increased transparency and security of product information.
B2C — consumers perspective
Consumers can instantly verify the authenticity of any medicine by scanning it with their smartphone app — providing direct protection against counterfeit medicines, which can be life-threatening depending on their contents.
Employees perspective
Employees in pharmaceutical production and Regulatory Affairs must familiarise themselves with new digital processes for managing product information. The solution can ease the work of customer service staff, as patients have direct access to up-to-date information.
Benefits
General
- The immutable storage of package leaflet information on the blockchain protects against falsification and increases patient safety.
- Digital provision reduces printing and logistics costs and enables immediate updating of product information.
- Multilingual availability improves access to important health information for international patients.
B2B — organisations
- Pharmaceutical companies can position themselves as innovative and patient-oriented businesses and strengthen trust in their product quality.
B2C — consumers
- Patients have access at all times to current and understandable information about their medicines in their preferred language.
Employees
- Employees in Regulatory Affairs can manage and update product information more efficiently without having to go through complex printing and distribution processes.
Challenges
General
- Acceptance of the digital solution among patients and medical professionals must first be built up, as many are still accustomed to physical package leaflets.
- Ensuring the continuous availability of digital package leaflets requires a robust technical infrastructure.
B2B — organisations
- Pharmaceutical companies must invest in new technology infrastructure and staff training to successfully implement the blockchain-based solution.
Employees
- Employees need training in handling the new blockchain technology and the associated security protocols.
Technology foundation
The use case employs a permissioned blockchain technology that only allows authorised pharmaceutical manufacturers to store and update package leaflet information. This technology is particularly suitable for the regulated pharmaceutical sector as it enables control over access rights while guaranteeing the immutability of stored information.
Implementation examples
Demo implementation at the Blockchain Reallabor
The Blockchain Reallabor aimed to demonstrate how blockchain technology can improve the security and accessibility of medicinal information. The goal was to develop a practical solution to the pharmaceutical industry's challenges regarding product safety and patient information.
The Blockchain Reallabor in the Rhineland region has developed a demo version of the Pharma Authenticate app.
The Blockchain Reallabor developed the Pharma Authenticate app as a demonstration project to showcase the potential of blockchain technology for secure digital patient information leaflets. The demo allows users to scan QR codes and access immutable product information. The project serves as a proof of concept for the practical application of blockchain technology in healthcare and shows how pharmaceutical manufacturers can securely digitise their product information.
The project addresses the challenges of product counterfeiting and limited access to multilingual patient information leaflets. The blockchain-based solution ensures the integrity of product information and enables better accessibility for international patients.
Tags
Patient safety, Digitalisation, Counterfeit protection, Multilingualism, QR code