When we think of pharmaceutical counterfeiting, tablets, capsules and medicines sold through unauthorised channels are usually the first products that come to mind. In reality, however, the problem affects a much broader range of pharmaceutical formats and also includes creams, gels, topical treatments and medicated ointments, including products intended for ophthalmic use.
In these cases, the risk does not concern the formulation alone. Counterfeiters may attempt to reproduce the entire packaging system, from the tube and graphics to the cap and printed information, with the aim of making the fake product appear as similar as possible to the genuine one. For pharmaceutical companies, pharmaceutical packaging therefore represents much more than a means of protecting and correctly dispensing a medicine: it can also become one of the elements that help reveal possible tampering, inconsistencies or anomalies.
Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting Remains a Major Concern
Counterfeit medicines continue to pose a real threat to patient safety and to the pharmaceutical supply chain as a whole. In May 2026, Europol supported an international operation targeting a criminal network involved in the production, distribution and sale of counterfeit and unauthorised medicines and supplements. According to the authorities, the organisation had been active for almost two decades and was linked to at least EUR 240 million in illicit transactions. The operation involved 138 searches across several countries and resulted in at least nine arrests.
Yet focusing only on conventional solid dosage forms risks underestimating the scale of the problem. In India, for example, a case uncovered at the end of 2025 directly involved counterfeit medicated ointments. Authorities seized around 1,200 fake tubes of Betnovate-C, more than 2,700 tubes of Clop-G and over 3,700 tubes of Skin-Shine, together with almost 22,000 empty counterfeit-branded tubes, raw materials and machinery used to mix, fill and seal the products.
For the packaging industry, this is a particularly significant detail, as it shows that the tube itself can become an integral part of pharmaceutical counterfeiting.
Ophthalmic Ointments Can Be Counterfeited Too
When a product is intended for use around the eye, the issue becomes even more sensitive. Ophthalmic ointments are applied to one of the most delicate areas of the body and therefore require particular attention not only to formulation, but also to protection, storage and safe application.
A particularly relevant example dates back to 2023, when Bausch + Lomb reported counterfeit versions of Muro 128® in the United States, affecting both the ophthalmic solution and the 5% ophthalmic ointment. The company warned that the safety and efficacy of the counterfeit products could not be guaranteed and that their manufacturing, quality, storage and handling conditions might not comply with FDA requirements.
What makes the case especially interesting from a packaging perspective is how some counterfeit products could be identified. In the case of the ophthalmic ointment, reported discrepancies included missing lot numbers or expiry dates, differences in the cap and even in the tube material: some counterfeit versions used a plastic-like material, whereas the genuine product was supplied in a metal tube.
For the counterfeit ophthalmic solution, one of the anomalies highlighted by the company was the possible absence of the external plastic seal.
The message is clear: when dealing with pharmaceutical counterfeiting, the physical characteristics of the packaging can also play an important role.
Anti-Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Packaging: Security Is in the Details
Pharmaceutical counterfeiting is a complex issue that requires traceability systems, strict supply-chain controls, authorised distribution channels and increasingly advanced technologies. No single packaging component can therefore guarantee the authenticity of a medicine on its own.
However, designing anti-counterfeit pharmaceutical packaging means adding layers of protection that can make tampering more difficult or, just as importantly, easier to detect.
QR codes, difficult-to-replicate graphic elements, serialisation systems and digital technologies can all contribute to this goal, but simpler solutions continue to play an important role. One example is the tamper-evident seal, designed to make any opening or alteration of the pack clearly visible.
For a pharmaceutical product intended for ophthalmic use, even an apparently small detail can therefore provide an additional level of control throughout the journey from manufacturer to patient.
Ophthalmic Tubes with Tamper-Evident Seals: A Small Component with an Important Function
Perfektüp has long developed anti-counterfeit packaging solutions for aluminium tubes, with particular attention to ophthalmic applications.
A heat-shrink sleeve can be applied around the closure of Tubettificio Perfektüp tubes with an ophthalmic nozzle, connecting the nozzle and cap and breaking when the product is opened for the first time. Once damaged, the sleeve cannot be restored to its original condition, making any previous opening or tampering visible. The correct application of the system is also monitored during production through automated inspection systems.
Today, this tamper-evident seal for ophthalmic tubes is made from PET, replacing the previously used PVC while retaining the possibility of printing and customisation. The result is a solution that combines packaging security, recognisability and greater attention to sustainability.
It is a clear example of how, in pharmaceutical packaging, even a very small component can perform several functions at once: making tampering visible, supporting pack identification and becoming an integral part of the overall packaging design.
Aluminium Ophthalmic Tubes: Product Protection and Patient-Centred Design
The Perfektüp aluminium ophthalmic tube has been developed with these requirements in mind. Aluminium provides an effective barrier against light, air and moisture, while the collapsible tube structure enables controlled dispensing of the product. Perfektüp also manufactures small-diameter tubes with capacities starting from 3 ml, particularly suitable for ophthalmic formulations, which can be combined with a rigid or soft ophthalmic nozzle and supplied with or without a tamper-evident seal.
The soft ophthalmic nozzle has been developed with a particularly patient-centred approach, combining a stable base with a flexible tip that bends gently in the event of contact, helping reduce the risk of discomfort or accidental injury during application. This feature can be especially valuable for children, elderly patients, people with reduced dexterity and caregivers. Tubettificio Perfektüp aluminium tube with soft ophthalmic nozzle received the 2015 Packaging Oscar for Technological Innovation.
In ophthalmic packaging, protection of the formulation, safety, precise application and pack integrity are not separate considerations: they are all part of the same packaging design strategy.
CPHI Milan 2026: Meet the Perfektüp Group
From 6 to 8 October 2026, CPHI Milan will bring together companies and professionals from across the international pharmaceutical supply chain at Fiera Milano. Once again this year, the event will be a special opportunity to meet the entire Perfektüp Group, present in Milan, bringing together its expertise and solutions for pharmaceutical packaging and giving visitors the opportunity to meet the team, discuss new projects and explore the Group’s capabilities for the pharmaceutical sector.
These will naturally include Perfektüp solutions for aluminium ophthalmic packaging, from small-format tubes and rigid or soft ophthalmic nozzles to tamper-evident systems. Because when it comes to pharmaceutical safety, even the smallest packaging detail can make a meaningful difference.
Meet the Perfektüp Group at CPHI Milan 2026
📍 Hall 11 | Stand J78
📅 6–8 October 2026
📍 Fiera Milano
Meet the Perfektüp Group and discover how we can turn the requirements of your next pharmaceutical project into a safe, reliable packaging solution developed around your product.
