HDMA LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO ELECTRONIC ANTI-COUNTERFEIT SOLUTIONS AFFIRMED BY FDA AND PhRMA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Arlington VA (May 20, 2005) – The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA), the national association representing primary healthcare distributors, commends the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) for their support of electronic track and trace systems as a key component of the overall strategy to improve the safety and security of the national drug supply. HDMA has been actively working to promote industry-wide education and awareness of electronic solutions that can be used to further secure the U.S. pharmaceutical supply since 2001.

The FDA and PhRMA both issued statements this week advocating for the industry-wide adoption of electronic solutions to secure drug products.

“HDMA strongly believes that technologies such as EPC/RFID play an important role in securing the prescription drug supply, though we agree with FDA and PhRMA that no single solution will prevent drug counterfeiting” said HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray. “HDMA will continue to work in tandem with our distributor members, manufacturers, pharmacies and lawmakers to develop and implement a multi-pronged anti-counterfeiting approach that will provide a safe and reliable supply of prescription drugs for patients.”

For several years, HDMA has worked to drive the adoption, implementation, and utilization of EPC/RFID technology at all levels in the supply chain. To encourage support for technology-based anti-counterfeiting solutions, HDMA has and will continue to spearhead broad-based task forces that bring together leaders in both industry and government.

“It is critical that all members of the healthcare supply chain work together to develop consistent infrastructures, business practices and government regulations that support the unique identification, tracking and tracing of product information throughout the supply chain,” continued Gray. “HDMA and its members are committed to working toward the implementation of effective pedigree systems. EPC/RFID, for example, will enable manufacturers to serialize drug products at the item level, permitting the entire supply chain to track product movement electronically, making it far easier to spot and quarantine suspicious products in the prescription drug supply well before they reach consumers.”

Electronic track and trace solutions are just one part of the overall strategy to reduce counterfeiting incidents. HDMA has been petitioning states across the United States to crack down on criminals who seek to obtain drug distribution licenses, and has been leading the call for stricter licensing, stronger regulations, tougher penalties and best business practices to help secure the nation’s medicine supply. For more information on this and other HDMA-led anti-counterfeit initiatives, please visit www.HealthcareDistribution.org.

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