New sensor tech developed to detect fake medicines

Researchers in the UK have developed a hand-held electrochemical sensor device designed to verify the authenticity of medicines quickly, accurately and affordably.

The team from the University of Brighton have said that the FakeMedSensor, designed by Professor Bhavik Patel and Dr Ricoveer Shergill (pictured above), can be used across the supply chain and offers a fast, portable solution for "healthcare workers, manufacturers, and even patients."

The device uses electrochemical sensing to detect the presence and amount of active pharmaceutical ingredients without needing complex processes, according to its developers, who suggest it could also have applications in testing health supplements and agricultural products, including veterinary medicines.

The prototype has already delivered encouraging results in laboratory trials, according to a statement from the university, and the next stage of development will focus on broader testing and refinement to meet regulatory and industry standards, with the hope of forming a spin-out company within the next 12 months to take the project forward.

"Falsified and substandard medication presents a serious threat to global health – one that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations," said Prof Patel.

"Our work is about delivering a practical solution that provides wide scale surveillance of medicines throughout all phases of the supply chain," he added. "We’ve focused on making the FakeMedSensor accurate, low-cost, and easy to use. This technology has the potential to safeguard health in both high-tech and low-resource environments."

A video introducing the tech can be viewed below:

The team is inviting feedback from professionals in healthcare, veterinary, pharmaceutical, and agriculture sectors to help shape the sensor’s development. The project is being supported by UKRI’s Connecting Capability Fund and Innovate UK’s ICURe Discover programme.