GlaxoSmithKline has responded to the recent story in The Times last weekend, which suggested that the pharmaceutical company may be about to drop a plan to put RFID tags on bottles of a drug, Trizivir, in the US, because of technical hitches in a pilot.
Following the publication of the story, GlaxoSmithKline subsequently issued this statement:
"GSK is dedicated to the safety and integrity of its products. RFID remains in place, both within GSK's consumer business and as a pilot within the pharmaceuticals business, and we continue to evaluate, progress and implement this and other technologies as we look for ways to improve on methods to protect patient safety, secure the supply chain and discourage counterfeiting. We are continuing to commit significant resources to address patient safety, combat counterfeiting, and comply with federal, state and local laws related to anti-counterfeiting and patient safety measures."
It also pointed to a follow-up story in RFID Journal.
Although it won't please GlaxoSmithKline to see the original story, the Times article is probably a useful addition to the RFID debate because it brings the physical limitations of RFID under the harsh glare of publicity, and in so doing, steps up the pressure on the RFID supply side to deliver practical, reliable solutions to users' needs - and do it cost effectively.
One could speculate that the reason the article has appeared at all is that there is no smoke without fire. If I were GlaxoSmithKline I certainly wouldn't be above using it to point out the adverse publicity that could be generated if the RFID-based anti drug-counterfeiting trial is not a success......
You can rest assured, it will be a success now.