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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how a web‐enabled product ID system can be applied to pharmaceutical marketing and consumer relationship management.Design/methodology/approachAs a technical paper, it first introduces and describes the product ID system and then explores various marketing applications of this interactive communication tool in the pharmaceutical industry. Finally, it concludes with managerial implications and caveats.FindingsThe web‐based product ID system is able to provide a means for product validation and database marketing, facilitate interactive marketing communication and viral marketing, and collect customer information and feedback for research activities.Research limitations/implicationsThe perceived lack of security of public networks and customer confidence about drug sourcing are always concerns when applied to online technology in pharmaceutical marketing. Caveats about building such a system of coded ID product are discussed.Practical implicationsThe use of uniquely coded packaging would impact marketing research activities, enhance consumer promotions, allow end‐users to authenticate a drug's validity, provide a means for early reporting of unforeseen risks or benefits, and build/maintain customer relationship.Originality/valueThe proposed web‐based product ID system is an innovative concept that can have important marketing implications in the pharmaceutical industry.

Discovery and Parallel Synthesis of a New Class of Cathepsin K Inhibitors.-Peptidomimetic aminomethyl ketones are prepared by conventional synthesis [as shown for the preparation of compounds of type (XII)] and parallel synthesis techniques. These kind of compounds are identified as a new class of cathepsin K inhibitors. Structure-activity relationships are established and some compounds, such as (XIIb), are characterized with IC 50 values in the range of 200-500 nM. -(SMITH, ROGER A.; BHARGAVA,