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DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION
FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY /
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Applications:
SUN, SupplyScape WORK TO COMBAT
DRUG COUNTERFEITING
Sun Microsystems Inc and SupplyScape Corp announced a Pharmaceutical
Anti-Counterfeit RFID Package, an offering enabling companies in the
pharmaceutical supply chain to combat counterfeiting and diversion while
gaining efficiencies throughout the supply chain. The offering addresses
recommendations announced yesterday by the FDA Counterfeit Drug Task Force, as
outlined in its "Combating Counterfeit Drugs" report at
www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/counterfeit/report02_04.html.
According to the FDA report, "RFID technology will make the copying of
medications either extremely difficult or unprofitable." Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) technology, coupled with the Electronic Product Code
(EPC) and electronic pedigrees are key elements in a multi-layered approach to
combat the growing problem of counterfeit drugs affecting patient safety in
the United States. The SupplyScape on Sun offering supports the FDA and State
government initiatives targeting counterfeit drugs by providing EPC-enabled
RFID solutions for the pharmaceutical industry.
"Visionaries articulate a future in which RFID is ubiquitous and nearly
everything is traceable," said Michael Swenson, research manager of Life
Science Insights, an IDC subsidiary. "However, in this post Internet bubble
era, broad visions of eventual pay-offs hold little appeal. It is vitally
important that early RFID solutions deliver quick relief for pressing industry
problems. Solutions must stand on their own merit and not rely on some future
day in which RFID becomes pervasive. This Pharmaceutical Anti-Counterfeit
solution appears to fit that profile."
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The Pharmaceutical Anti-Counterfeit RFID package is based on Sun Java
Enterprise System Software, an open and integrated software system, and Sun's
RFID infrastructure software that features self-healing and provisioning and
works with leading EPC-enabled readers, including Alien, AWID, Feig, Matrics,
Tagsys and Tyco. Sun's EPC-compliant RFID software, combined with
SupplyScape's electronic pedigree application, runs on low-cost Sun x86-based
platform servers with the Solaris Operating System or Linux. Because all
components adhere to the EPCglobal standards, pharmaceutical manufacturers,
wholesale distributors, and pharmacies can quickly and cost-effectively add
the solution to their current supply chain infrastructure and processes,
helping streamline operations and secure the prescription drug delivery chain
from counterfeits.
"The EPC-based Pharmaceutical Anti-Counterfeit package presented by
SupplyScape and Sun highlights a novel and comprehensive way of addressing the
issues of counterfeit drugs and product diversion," said Robin Koh, director
of MIT Auto-ID Labs. "They have worked with MIT's Auto-ID Labs, EPCglobal,
Federal and State regulatory officials and the pharmaceutical industry to
develop a complete solution that takes into account both regulatory and
business requirements."
Using EPC Standards To Help Streamline Drug Delivery, Eliminate Counterfeits
SupplyScape Electronic Pedigree comes with the pedigree business rules for the
Federal Prescription Drug Marketing Act (PDMA) as well as state pedigree
regulations for Nevada and the Florida Pedigree Law. Customers enable the
specific business rules they require for their business operations. The
solution mass-serializes drug products and automates pedigrees for
prescription drug track and trace and enables pharmaceutical manufacturers,
wholesalers and pharmacies to increase the speed and quality of shipping and
receiving, expedite returns processing and improve recall precision.
The FDA report cites: "Use of mass serialization to uniquely identify all drug
products intended for use in the United States is the single most powerful
tool available to secure the U.S. drug supply. Mass serialization involves
assigning a unique number (EPC) to each pallet, case, and package of drugs and
then using that number to record information about all transactions involving
the product, thus providing an electronic pedigree from the manufacturer to
the point of dispensing. The EPC would allow each drug purchaser to
immediately determine a drug's authenticity, where it was intended for sale,
and whether it was previously dispensed."
"This comprehensive offering leverages RFID technology and the EPC Network to
provide completely new track and trace capabilities for the pharmaceutical
industry," says Liz From, Life Science Industry manager for Sun Microsystems.
"The same technology offers short-term ROI by taking cost out of
pharmaceutical supply chain operations."
"This is an integrated solution addressing a known problem -- pharmaceutical
counterfeiting and diversion," said Shabbir Dahod, president and CEO of
SupplyScape. "Together with Sun, we are offering a specific bundled package
ready to provide business value above and beyond what's needed to meet
upcoming electronic pedigree regulations while safeguarding the drug supply
and protecting brand value and integrity."
The SupplyScape on Sun solution is expected to be available in the second
quarter of calendar year 2004. More information about Sun's leading role with
RFID is available at www.sun.com/rfid.
About Sun Microsystems Inc
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision -- "The Network Is The
Computer" -- has propelled Sun Microsystems Inc to its position as a leading
provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that make the
Net work. Sun can be found in more than 100 countries and on the World Wide
Web at sun.com/.
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