SupplyScape Provides Free License to Open Universal Electronic Pedigree Format at ePedigree.org

Pharmaceutical Electronic Pedigree Technology Leader Accelerates Industry ePedigree Exchange To Prevent Counterfeit Drugs

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (May 31, 2005) - SupplyScape Corporation, the inventor of the Electronic Pedigree solution to the problem of counterfeit drugs, announced today the company is licensing its electronic pedigree format free of charge. By making this open technology specification available to the industry, the electronic pedigree software leader is enabling manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacies to ship and receive authentic drugs and comply with federal and state pedigree requirements. SupplyScape has set up a dedicated Web site to make it easy to license and use the Open Universal Electronic Pedigree Interchange Format which is tested and ready for commercial deployment.

Protecting the drug supply from counterfeits is an urgent matter marshalling attention at the state and federal level. Within a year, pedigrees will be required for all drugs distributed in Florida (July 2006). Additional states have similar deadlines (Indiana: June 2006, California: January 2007).

"We've invested 20 man years in the development of a universal electronic pedigree software application and now we are sharing the interchange format in an open and free manner. Our contribution will pave the way for commercial implementations and accelerate the standards process."Shabbir Dahod
President and CEO, SupplyScape

In Combating Counterfeit Drugs: A Report of the Food and Drug Administration Annual Update released on May 18, 2005, the FDA stated "we are pleased with the progress stakeholders, standard-setting bodies, and software and hardware companies have made thus far toward implementing an electronic pedigree for drug products...we are optimistic that this progress will continue in an expeditious manner toward meeting our 2007 goal." Analysis in the report shows counterfeit investigations nearly doubled last year and increased tenfold in the last five years.

Industry Benefits From Open Universal Pedigree Format

The exchange of pedigrees between manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacies can be streamlined when all trading partners use the same pedigree format to certify secure drug distribution. SupplyScape is contributing its intellectual property as a catalyst to accelerate implementations and standards for electronic pedigree. The technology leader plans to submit the specification to standards organizations including EPCglobal.

"The standards process can take years, but the pharmaceutical industry doesn't have the luxury of time since counterfeit drugs in the supply chain is such a dangerous issue," said Carol Rozwell, VP and Research Director, Gartner, Inc. "In order to reduce the cost and complexity of communication among trading partners, companies will gravitate toward a common approach like the universal electronic pedigree. Widespread usage will contribute toward adoption of an industry standard."

"SupplyScape is widely recognized as the technology experts for drug pedigrees," said Todd Skrinar, Partner, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Unisys. "We intend to use the open universal pedigree format in implementations with our customers." Skrinar is Special Advisor for the EPCglobal Healthcare Life Science Information working group currently outlining requirements for ePedigree standards.

"SupplyScape's electronic pedigree software and format were exercised extensively at the Drug Security Networkª," said Pete Moore, Vice President of Logistics and RFID in the Supply Chain practice at Capgemini. "Leading manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies and their technology partners, along with EPCglobal, have asked SupplyScape to contribute this intellectual property so the industry can move quickly toward a safe and secure supply chain." Moore is executive sponsor of the Drug Security Network collaboration project at Capgemini as well as Special Advisor for the EPCglobal Healthcare Life Science Policy working group.

"We've invested 20 man years in the development of a universal electronic pedigree software application and now we are sharing the interchange format in an open and free manner," said Shabbir Dahod, president and CEO, SupplyScape. "Our contribution will pave the way for commercial implementations and accelerate the standards process."

How to Obtain the Electronic Pedigree Format

Companies who wish to use the pedigree format can download the license agreement at www.epedigree.org. The free license provides unlimited access to the format and documentation.

The Open Universal Electronic Pedigree Interchange Format includes the XML specification for transmitting and receiving electronic pedigrees and includes all the data fields necessary to comply with all state pedigree regulations and the federal Prescription Drug Marketing Act. It also complies with the rules for electronic pedigrees drafted by the Florida Bureau of Statewide Pharmaceutical Services in January of this year.

About SupplyScape

SupplyScape provides electronic pedigree software and expertise to safeguard and secure the pharmaceutical supply chain. A leader in defining an open universal standards-based electronic pedigree solution for the pharmaceutical industry, the company's executives enable manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and pharmacies to derive sustainable business value from their investments in electronic pedigree and supply chain security. For more information, visit www.supplyscape.com.