IBM launches RFID-based ePedigree drug tracking system

IBM's own anti-counterfeiting technology that was unveiled last year for use in the drug industry is finally launching. The electronic pedigree system (ePedigree for short) aims to "help drug companies create electronic certificates of authenticity for medications -- down to the individual bottle -- as they move from manufacturers and distributors to pharmacies and hospitals." It was also noted that some states, particularly California in 2009, are looking to pass a law that will require "any medication distributed in the state have its life history attached to it," so until then, make sure you don't procure any sketchy brown bottles from the nearest street vendor, cool?

[Image courtesy of SpyChips]

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 9th 2007 10:34PM]

I'll stick to the "illicit" Canadian stuff, thanks.

With the USA going the direction it is I can't trust anyone in the government to be looking out for me. (and never should have to begin with)

The pharmaceutical industry can shove that DRM (drug rights management) where the sun don't shine.

So I'll look out for myself.

[Ondra Soukup @ Aug 9th 2007 11:02PM]

And Gregory House is now officially screwed :DDD

[Fred @ Aug 10th 2007 8:35AM]

Aegate (a PA Consulting Group Company) have been doing point of dispensing drug authentication for ages - 2/3 of pharmacies in Belgium already use their technology.


http://www.aegate.com/

[Wwhat @ Aug 10th 2007 8:47PM]

After seeing that documentary about factories in Dubai that sell traders medication labeled with '500mg' and containing 250mg or 350mg of active ingredient, and even with perfect copies of packaging including holographic seal, and even for antibiotics and AIDS medicine, not to mention the Chinese fake medicine stories I can see why even more effort is needed, but I don't see it becoming foolproof with electronics.

Still, you want your antibiotics to not be half-dose or fake do you?

[Gautam @ Aug 13th 2007 6:19AM]

If everything goes well then ePedigree will surely bring down the number of deaths caused as a result of fake medicines. Is there something in the offing for strips too besides bottles?

http://www.rfid-weblog.com/