Electronic pedigree adoption took another major step forward this week with the announcement of the first group of electronic pedigree software applications to successfully complete EPCglobal Drug Pedigree Standard conformance certification.

The availability of certified commercial vendor software will reduce implementation risk and increase interoperability across the pharmaceutical industry.

SupplyScape was recognized as one of the first-in-industry companies to have its E-Pedigree data management software pass this rigorous, independent testing program and earn EPCglobal certified status.

The certification mark was awarded at the EPCglobal Health and Life Sciences Meeting of the GS1 U Connect Conference on June 6 in Orlando, Florida.

"SupplyScape is dedicated to open and interoperable standards for the pharmaceutical industry," noted Shabbir Dahod, president and CEO of SupplyScape. "It is gratifying that SupplyScape is one of the first in the industry to receive this certification for our E-Pedigree software. The widespread adoption of the EPCglobal Drug Pedigree Messaging Standard creates a foundation of precise and timely information that will transform the pharmaceutical value chain."

California Readiness

The California electronic pedigree law introduces new requirements for pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers and trading partners across the supply chain. This bellwether state's affirmation of the EPCglobal Drug Pedigree standard provides yet additional verification of the standard and recognition that it represents the only standard approved for the open, interoperable exchange of electronic drug pedigrees.

Leading Industry Standards

E-Pedigree's certification underscores the significant commitment SupplyScape has made to support the development and adoption of EPCglobal standards. SupplyScape was instrumental in developing the EPCglobal Drug Pedigree Messaging standard, contributing its electronic pedigree intellectual property toward the standard and working closely with the industry and EPCglobal over the past three years to secure introduction of the standard.

SupplyScape's leadership within EPCglobal and the pharmaceutical industry is reflected in its active participation in the Track & Trace, Supply Chain Integrity, EPCIS, Serialization, RFID, and ePedigree standards working groups.

SupplyScape has also helped educate the industry through a series of business value webinars, attended by more than 200 people from over 50 pharmaceutical companies, on the ratified Drug Pedigree Messaging Standard and adoption guidelines to improve drug security throughout the supply chain.

Cardinal Health Care Veteran Joins SupplyScape to Drive Industry Standards Initiatives

Cardinal Health Veteran Dirk Rodgers recently joined SupplyScape as Director of Industry Standards, bringing more than 20 years of technology and operations experience in pharmaceutical supply chain collaboration and systems integration to his new role. Dirk has been a driving force in numerous EPCglobal standard working groups, and led the Drug Pedigree Messaging work group that successfully created the Drug Pedigree Messaging standard. Dirk's industry expertise and EPCglobal stewardship experience, combined with SupplyScape's adoption leadership, will translate into more standards that address industry needs.

Customer Adoption Continues to Accelerate

Customer adoption of patient safety and product security solutions is growing and will continue to accelerate with the availability of EPCglobal certified ePedigree software. SupplyScape's customer adoption continues to build momentum. More than 65 companies across the pharmaceutical supply chain are already gaining business benefits from the EPCglobal Drug Pedigree Standard.

"The pharmaceutical industry is highly motivated to reduce counterfeiting and ensure patient safety. Adoption of electronic pedigrees is a way to accomplish that," remarked Carol Rozwell, Vice President and Distinguished Analyst, Gartner, Inc. The EPCglobal standard is a vendor neutral approach that facilitates a level of commercial software interoperability needed to verify chain of custody across the supply chain."

Driving Business Value Today

Companies are already deriving business value today from their pedigree compliance investment. Examples of business benefits from standard-based pedigrees include improved product availability and inventory management for all trading partners in the drug supply chain; faster and more targeted recalls; and rapid, more precise reconciliation for chargebacks and returns.

Companies also benefit from more efficient receiving, more accurate order fulfillment and fewer stock-outs. Each of these improvements can occur immediately.

Customers using SupplyScape E-Pedigree realize these benefits and more, as a result of the SupplyScape pedigree data management system which is a core component of the pedigree solution.

Moreover, these companies are also realizing the significant value potential of standards-based pedigree data as the master data for the supply chain and the business benefits that SupplyScape On-Demand Value Networks provide. SupplyScape powers the transformation of today's Bio/Pharma value chain through precise and timely information infused into synchronized business processes. Business leaders from over 50 companies rely on SupplyScape's On-Demand Value Network applications, including E-Pedigree, to increase patient safety while maximizing revenue and profits through enhanced product security and supply chain visibility.