Bilcare and Applied DNA Sciences team up on authentication

Bilcare Technologies and Applied DNA Sciences have joined forces to market a security system based on their respective technologies that promises to provide "real-time, portable and forensic authentication."

The rationale behind the alliance is to bring together Applied DNA Sciences forensic tools for product authentication - which have a high degree of accuracy but need to be confirmed in the lab - with Bilcare's overt and covert technologies that can be used to test products in the field.

Adrien Burden, European president of Bilcare Technologies, told SecuringPharma.com that the link-up makes great sense for both parties.

"We've always believed that effective brand protection requires multiple layers of security features, and this agreement augments Bilcare's offering with leading forensic authentication technology," he said.

In return, Applied DNA Sciences can tap into the field authentication and supply chain track and trace elements in Bilcare's portfolio, he said.

Bilcare contributes its nonClonable authentication technology to the collaboration, which relies on the application of micro- and nanoparticulate metallic materials - with unique magnetic and optical features - that can be added to a product's primary and/or secondary packaging as well as the label.

The unique, random pattern of the nanoparticles can be read at any stage in the pharmaceutical supply chain to authenticate packaging and detect counterfeits or diverted product using a low-cost, handheld scanner. Bilcare has also developed the back-end IT systems to handle the signal and verification communications, and has already commercialised the system in industries such as automotive components.

Meanwhile, Applied DNA Sciences contributes its SignatureDNA technology, which makes use of botanical DNA as a marker which can be placed on products and then verified with a high degree of reliability and accuracy in the lab. The company also has a system called BioMaterial GenoTyping which can be used to detect and authenticate DNA in product based on natural materials, and is using both to protect textiles, apparel, banknotes, and personal care and luxury goods.

In a statement, the two firms said the alliance means "both companies can now offer real time identification, authentication and verification of marked products in the field and forensic authentication of these items in the lab, providing a complete security solution."

There is also complementarity in the two businesses geographic presence, according to Burden, who noted that Applied DNA Sciences has a strong position in the USA while Bilcare is big in Asia and building momentum in Europe.

"Working together means we can generate a lot of leads in all key territories," he said.


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