Cooperation Between Horus Pharma and Arvato Systems on Product Serialization

• Arvato Systems migrates software for implementation of the EU’s Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) in less than eight weeks
• Horus Pharma switches from previous software provider to Arvato Systems during live operation

(Arvato Systems) Gütersloh, Germany – On 9 February 2019 the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/161 came into force in order to counteract possible counterfeiting of prescription medicines within the EU. Two years later, Horus Pharma decided to change its software, and now the company serializes its own products using Arvato CSDB, the IT solution from Arvato Systems.

Prescription medicines are prohibited from being in circulation within the EU without a unique QR code or a device against tampering. Corresponding measures, which came into force more than two years ago, enable medicinal products to be verified in terms of identity, authenticity, and integrity. The aim of the system is to prevent falsified medicines from entering the legal supply chain.

Horus Pharma, an ophthalmology medication expert based in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, France, decided to use Arvato CSDB (Arvato Corporate Serialization Database) when the company signed the contract on 1 February 2021, thereby replacing its previous serialization software for medicinal products. The company is planning to expand into additional markets around the world as well as focus more on sustainability and its strategic orientation in the future by implementing a secure serialization solution, which were its main reasons for changing the system.

Carine Greppat, Serialization Project Manager at Horus Pharma, emphasizes: “We deliberately opted for a cooperation with Arvato Systems when implementing this critical project. Migrating from our legacy system to Arvato CSDB during ongoing operation within a very tight timeframe was also of particular importance to us. I also want to highlight the team spirit and trust we have experienced in our cooperation. We look forward to a long-term partnership.”

The proven and flexible Arvato CSDB (software-as-a-service) solution went into live operation at Horus Pharma in less than eight weeks. The migration focused on connecting the business partners (contract manufacturers), who had to be provided with the necessary product-relevant serialization data and a connection to the European centralized system (European Hub) to which the data is uploaded. This meets the requirements of the FMD in its current version and makes this data available to all relevant stakeholders in the pharmaceutical distribution and supply chain (wholesalers, hospitals, pharmacies).

“I’m very pleased that we were able to support Horus Pharma in its strategic realignment in the area of serialization and to ensure a smooth migration of the systems. Horus Pharma can now fully focus on its global growth strategy again,” states Pascal Leppich, Senior Sales & Business Development Manager at Arvato Systems.

About Horus Pharma
Founded in 2003, Horus Pharma operates in most segments in the field of ophthalmology and develops practical innovations that combine efficacy and safety. Focused on patient safety, the laboratory of Horus Pharma has become the recognized expert in the development of preservative-free formulations and health products. It maintains a strong focus on innovation, by investing 10 percent of its turnover into R&D. The company distributes its products in France and worldwide through its subsidiaries in Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, and through distribution agreements in other countries.