SupplyScape Contributes Universal Electronic Pedigree Format to EPCglobal Standards Group
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., October 7, 2005 - SupplyScape Corporation, pioneer of the Electronic Pedigree solution to the problem of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, announced today the company has contributed its electronic pedigree format to the EPCglobal Healthcare Life Sciences electronic pedigree standards joint working group. By submitting this open technology specification to the industry association, electronic pedigree software leader SupplyScape is supporting manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacies in their efforts to comply with federal and state pedigree requirements aimed at securing the pharma supply chain from counterfeits.
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).
"At SupplyScape we believe standards are essential to ensure pedigree interoperability among trading partners. We're pleased EPCglobal has started the standards process, and we are supporting this industry effort by contributing our knowledge, experience and intellectual property to help accelerate the ePedigree standard."Lucy Deus, VP of Product Development, SupplyScape
Universal Pedigree Initiative To Accelerate Industry Goal of Pharma Supply Chain Security
The exchange of pedigrees between manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacies can be accelerated and streamlined when all trading partners use a standard pedigree format to certify secure drug distribution.
"At SupplyScape we believe standards are essential to ensure pedigree interoperability among trading partners," said SupplyScape Vice President of Product Development Lucy Deus. "We're pleased EPCglobal has started the standards process, and we are supporting this industry effort by contributing our knowledge, experience and intellectual property to help accelerate the ePedigree standard."
SupplyScape has been a member of EPCglobal since the association initially focused on Healthcare Life Science. SupplyScape's Deus educated the industry members and technology providers on electronic pedigree during a presentation at the inaugural EPCglobal Healthcare Life Sciences industry forum last year.
"A well-defined set of standards for electronic pedigree is important to accelerate security across the pharma supply chain," said Purdue Pharma Director of Supply Chain and RFID Systems Michael Celentano. "Purdue wants to be confident that each of our trading partners can receive and authenticate the electronic pedigrees we send to them."
Pedigree Format Contribution Is Based on Real-World Experience
"The electronic pedigree format we are contributing to EPCglobal is based on real-world experience by trading partners in the pharma supply chain." said Robin Koh, Chief Strategy Officer of SupplyScape. "The format was exercised extensively at the Drug Security NetworkTM where leading manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacies, and their technology partners performed over thirty use cases from receiving to put-away to pick-to-order to shipping to returns." The SupplyScape Universal Electronic Pedigree Format is now used by manufacturer and wholesaler trading partners exchanging pedigrees for commercial drugs in the supply chain.
The open Universal Electronic Pedigree Interchange Format contributed by SupplyScape 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 now in final review at the Florida Bureau of Statewide Pharmaceutical Services.
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.
