IBM on Thursday will launch an electronic pedigree system to help the pharmaceutical industry combat drug counterfeiting, AP/Forbes reports.
The system, called ePedigree, will use radio frequency identification technology to track medications through the supply chain until they reach consumers. Pharmaceutical companies can use the system to create electronic authenticity certificates for medications as they travel from manufacturers and distributors to pharmacies and hospitals.
Drug companies in the past have used holograms and watermarks to try to combat fake drugs, but these safeguards were reproduced by counterfeiters within months.
The ePedigree system will help drug companies comply with new regulations targeted at fighting counterfeit drugs, according to IBM. For example, California beginning in 2009 will require that any medication distributed in the state have its distribution record attached to it.
Chris Clauss, director of sensor information management at IBM Software, said that in addition to combating fake drugs, the ePedigree system will help track expiration dates and batch numbers in case a drug is recalled (Ortutay, AP/Forbes, 8/9).