Former FDA, CVS RFID Visionaries Join SupplyScape Board of Advisors; Bill Hubbard, Paul Rudolf and Jack DeAlmo Bring Vital Industry Perspective to Drug Supply Chain Security Leader

Business Wire, June 7, 2006

WOBURN, Mass. -- When the Pharma industry considers adopting Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to help solve the problems of drug counterfeiting and diversion, key individuals who set the government and industry agendas come to mind. Bill Hubbard, former FDA senior associate commissioner, was often called to Capitol Hill to educate government officials on America's health care policies. Paul Rudolf, former FDA associate commissioner for policy, spearheaded the FDA's RFID initiative and co-authored the agency's Combating Counterfeit Drugs report. Jack DeAlmo, former CVS vice president, charted usage of RFID in the pharmaceutical distribution industry through his role as tri-chair of the EPCglobal Healthcare Life Science working group.

These three visionaries in health care and drug security have joined the Board of Advisors of SupplyScape Corporation, the leading provider of RFID-based drug supply chain security solutions. They will contribute vital perspective and industry acumen that enables SupplyScape to expand solutions addressing customer needs for business value through pharmaceutical supply chain security.

Bill Hubbard: FDA and HHS Public Health Policy Leader

Retired FDA Senior Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning Bill Hubbard brings extensive knowledge of governmental programs, having served a distinguished career at the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services.

"Public safety and health have always been my primary agenda, and I believe e-pedigree to be one of the most promising tools for improving patient safety," said retired FDA Senior Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning Bill Hubbard. "The country has made significant strides in defining the vision for a safe and secure drug supply which includes e-pedigree and RFID, and it's my goal to continue that progress by working with the leader in RFID-based drug security solutions."

During his 14-year tenure at the FDA, Mr. Hubbard made substantial contributions in public health. He was a leader in the design of the nutrition labels now found on all food packages as well as the redesign of over-the-counter drug labels. He also originated the Prescription Drug User Fee Act. Recently, Mr. Hubbard spearheaded programs to inhibit counterfeits from entering the legitimate drug supply.

Mr. Hubbard has achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Department's Distinguished Service Award (four times), the FDA's Award of Merit (four times), a presidential citation in 1997, and the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award in 1998 and 2005.

Paul Rudolf: RFID Visionary in the FDA Anti-Counterfeit Drug Initiative

Former FDA Senior Policy Analyst for Medical Affairs Paul Rudolf, MD, JD, is best known as a visionary who developed policy for the two most important payment systems in healthcare today. As medical officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, he led the development and implementation of Medicare payment and coding policies for physicians, hospitals, and other health-care providers.

More recently, Dr. Rudolf led the FDA's initiative to fight fake and adulterated drugs. Co-author of the FDA's Combating Counterfeit Drugs report, Dr. Rudolf outlined the federal government's vision and worked with industry to implement the Agency's recommendations for securing America's drug supply from counterfeit, diverted and adulterated drugs.

"Today's pharmaceutical and healthcare networks are intricate and complicated, but forces are coming together for the pharmaceutical industry to realize the vision outlined in FDA's Combating Counterfeit Drugs report," said Paul Rudolf, MD, JD. "Through deeper understanding of these dynamics coupled with adoption of e-pedigree, mass serialization, and RFID, SupplyScape customers can derive increased business value from their supply chain security investments."

Dr. Rudolf currently practices health care law at Arent Fox and advises pharmaceutical companies and their trading partners on drug supply chain security.

Jack DeAlmo: Retail Chain Pharmacy Operations and Supply Chain Expert

Former vice president of inventory and merchandise operations for CVS Corporation, Jack DeAlmo brings vital perspective and expertise in retail chain pharmacy operations, supply chain, and drug distribution security from his 27-year leadership at CVS, the nation's largest retail drug store chain.

"SupplyScape has a vision for supply chain security, patient safety and improving operational efficiencies, and they truly understand the business opportunities of the transformation occurring in the pharmaceutical industry," said Jack DeAlmo, former CVS vice president. "Their RFID-based solutions will help the chain drugstore industry to improve inventory management and deliver the right drugs when and where customers need them, efficiently and cost-effectively."

Mr. DeAlmo held key positions during his tenure at CVS in store operations, field operations, loss prevention, supply chain management, and information systems. In addition, he drove adoption of new technologies to improve operational efficiencies including the company's first replenishment system and its first point of sale system. In addition, Mr. DeAlmo was the primary executive in charge of CVS's adoption of EPC/RFID.