In cooperation with software provider SupplyScape and several pharmaceutical companies, Capgemini has introduced what it hopes will become an industry standard for the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Prompted by developing state mandates in both Florida and Nevada, Capgemini's Drug Security Network establishes a "pedigree" program that tracks the movement of drugs from manufacturer to DC to pharmacy. The program was conceived to help curb the occurrence of counterfeit drugs entering the supply chain.

At manufacturing, the software application establishes a pedigree for each pill bottle, indicating the type of drug, the number of pills contained within the bottle, and other pertinent information.

The list of pedigrees within a shipment is sent to the DC to be verified upon receipt of the pharmaceuticals. The same is done with shipment to pharmacies.

Although pedigree verification can be done using paper, Capgemini is urging pharmacies and manufacturers to adopt RFID technology to utilize the system's full capabilities. Brenda Kelly, vice president of marketing for SupplyScape, explains that RFID would assign a serial number and EPC to each pill bottle or case, and the appropriate pedigree would be attached to that serial number.

By using RFID, the system would be able to recognize the contents of a case without having to unpack and repack. The software also recognizes if a serial number is inaccurate.

"The pedigree approach is serving as the model for several states' legislation," she says. Kelly mentions that up to 20 states are considering pedigree legislation.