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Antares Vision Group Launches Exception Management System for Pharmaceuticals Supply Chain 

Amid a surge in exceptions, company’s DIAMIND Sentry promotes seamless

operations and compliance with traceability regulations.

Travagliato, Italy – Antares Vision Group – a technological partner in the digitalization of products and supply chains for companies and institutions, and a leader in traceability and inspection for quality control – has launched DIAMIND Sentry, a solution allowing pharma companies to efficiently manage the substantial uptick in exceptions stemming from traceability mandates. The sophisticated system was developed by rfxcel, a business unit of Antares Vision Group providing supply chain visibility solutions.

The implementation of widespread traceability regulations, most notably the US Food & Drug Administration’s Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), requires the electronic exchange of unit-level product data, amplifying the volume of information shared among manufacturers, wholesalers, and dispensers. However, any errors during these exchanges result in compliance exceptions, and a significant increase in these exceptions has created industry-wide challenges. Unfortunately, part of the potential for supply chain disruptions stem from inefficient partner collaboration tools. 

DIAMIND Sentry was developed to address these exception-centric obstacles by streamlining collaboration and ensuring seamless regulatory compliance. The cloud-based platform allows manufacturers, wholesalers, and dispensers to quickly identify and resolve product data exchange errors. Importantly, the system’s advanced exception management capabilities do not require platform upgrades, clearing the way for rapid deployment and immediate operational impact. 

DIAMIND Sentry automatically evaluates inbound and outbound Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS) files through multiple pre-checks, including format and master data validation, ensuring they meet DSCSA standards. Files that fail any checks generate detailed validation reports. Depending on the error’s criticality, files are either blocked, flagged for review, or sent back to partners for correction. Here, automated notifications and ticketing systems facilitate quick resolution of issues, allowing partners to respond directly via email to trigger automated responses and reprocessing. 

Throughout the process, customizable dashboards provide real-time visibility into data flows, exception statuses, and purchase order tracking. Overall benefits of DIAMIND Sentry include: 

  • DSCSA compliance: DIAMIND Sentry ensures all file transactions meet DSCSA requirements for traceability and security, with automated processes for maintaining compliance, and reducing the risk of noncompliance penalties.
  • Advanced exception management: Automated file evaluations ensure data accuracy and integrity, and detailed validation reports streamline error identification and resolution.
  • Seamless collaboration: Provides automated notifications and ticketing for efficient partner communication, and allows compatible integration with existing systems like ServiceNow and Salesforce via APIs.
  • Enhanced visibility: Real-time dashboards yield operator monitoring of file success/failure rates and purchase order statuses, as well as proactive alerts for missing or erroneous files to prevent delays.
  • Reduced exception management costs: Eliminating the need for additional human resources to track, handle and report all exception cases manually.
  • User-friendly interface: The system’s responsive design is accessible on both mobile and desktop devices, with customizable views tailored to different user roles within an organization.
  • Centralized data access: The solution serves as a single access point for all exception-related data, reducing response times and improving efficiency while providing global network visibility for multi-region operations.

About Antares Vision Group 

Antares Vision Group is driving digitalization of products and supply chains by leading traceability, inspection, and integrated data management. AV Group helps companies and institutions to achieve safety, quality, efficiency, and sustainability, enabling Trustparency®. 

DIAMIND, AV Group’s integrated ecosystem of solutions, simplifies the technology environment and supports business growth by enabling a data-driven and tailored journey to digital innovation. Connecting physical products with digital identities, DIAMIND runs at the line, factory, warehouse, enterprise, and supply chain levels and guarantees product quality (inspection systems and equipment) and end-to-end traceability (from raw materials to production, from distribution to the consumer and back) through integrated data management, applying artificial intelligence and potentially blockchain. 

AV Group operates in the Life Science (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and hospitals), Beverage, Food, Cosmetics, Chemicals, and Packaging industries and potentially many others. 

AV Group has been listed in STAR segment of Euronext since 14 May 2021. It has been included in the Euronext Tech Leaders index, dedicated to leading tech companies with high growth potential, since July 2022.

In 2022, Antares Vision Group recorded a turnover of €223 million. The Group operates in 60 countries, employs over 1,300 people, and has a consolidated network of over 40 international partners.

Antares Vision Group Celebrates 20 Years of rfxcel Technology, Innovation, and Leadership in Supply Chain Traceability Solutions

rfxcel Antares Vision Group logo

For two decades, the Reno, Nevada-based solution provider has remained committed to its founding principle of making supply chains safer, more efficient and transparent, and compliant.

 Reno, Nevada, December 5, 2023 — Antares Vision Group, an Italian multinational and a leading provider of track and trace and quality control systems, is marking the 20th anniversary of its subsidiary rfxcel. Founded in 2003 by CEO Glenn Abood and Co-Founder Emeritus Jack Tarkoff, it joined AV Group in 2021.

Emidio Zorzella, chairman and CEO of Antares Vision Group, said the milestone reflected the stature rfxcel had attained in diverse industries.

“Their longevity is a testament to their success,” he said. “rfxcel has developed leading-edge digital technologies since the day it opened its doors for business. It made a name for itself in the pharmaceutical industry by creating innovative, customer-focused solutions for global compliance, serialization, traceability, and real-time environmental monitoring. But soon, companies in other sectors became aware of its award-winning Traceability System, and rfxcel found success with new clients in food, beverage, cosmetics, and government.”

“Jack and I started the company when we realized that patient safety was at risk if people couldn’t verify the validity of a drug,” recalled Abood. “From that foundational idea — protecting people and products — we built a powerful, easy-to-use traceability framework suitable for any industry. We also built a great team of technical experts who shared our vision of providing a full-stack solution that could readily adapt to changes in business and regulatory landscapes and create value and opportunities at every node of the supply chain. And we offered it at a fair price and always put our customers first.”

Zorzella said bringing rfxcel into Antares Vision Group yielded immediate strategic benefits. “rfxcel’s technology, team, global network, experience, and knowledge are crucial to what the Group does now and what we have planned for the future,” he said, “including our DIAMIND integrated ecosystem of solutions. They are a key asset, and I think businesses and consumers alike are going to be impressed by what we accomplish.”

“It’s been an exciting time for us,” Abood concluded. “Joining Antares Vision Group was the perfect way to begin our next chapter. We launched a new product, DIAMIND Enterprise, to provide an integrated L1-L5 solution to our customers; it’s an interoperable solution that sets us apart from our competitors. I’m looking forward to continuing to improve our technology and helping our customers grow their business with the most complete end-to-end traceability solution available today.”

Highlights of rfxcel’s first 20 years include leadership to guide the pharmaceutical industry toward compliance with all aspects of the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), such as leading an FDA-approved pilot to extend testing of the Verification Router System (VRS), being the first compliance solution offered on the General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract, and being the first provider to join the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) Pulse Interoperable Partner program. Most recently, the company is working with the industry to launch pilots for DSCSA exception handling, testing recommended standards to correct errors with mandated EPCIS data.

Notably, leading food and intelligent packaging companies have recently utilized rfxcel’s traceability, transparency, serialization, and data management technologies. For a prominent berry producer, rfxcel digitalized over 1.5 billion products, empowering the brand to protect, support, and communicate with its customers. In Australia, the company partnered with Melbourne-based Result Group to manage millions of UNO™ game pieces with unique digital identities and enhance consumer engagement for fast food leader Hungry Jack’s.

 For more information, contact Senior Content and Communications Manager Garrison Spik at garrison@rfxcel.com.

 

ABOUT ANTARES VISION GROUP

Antares Vision Group is driving digitalization of products and supply chains by leading traceability, inspection, and integrated data management. AV Group helps companies and institutions to achieve safety, quality, efficiency, and sustainability, enabling Trustparency®.

DIAMIND, AV Group’s integrated ecosystem of solutions, simplifies the technology environment and supports businesses growth by enabling a data-driven and tailored journey to digital innovation. Connecting physical products with digital identities, DIAMIND runs at the line, factory, warehouse, enterprise, and supply chain levels, and guarantees product quality (inspection systems and equipment) and end-to-end traceability (from raw materials to production, from distribution to the consumer and back) through integrated data management, applying artificial intelligence and potentially blockchain.

With a strong focus on innovation, the company collaborates with universities and innovation centers; it is part of the Italian National Research Centre for the development of RNA drugs and has developed a traceability platform for agri-food products in collaboration with MISE (Italian Ministry of Economic Development) to ensure the authenticity and sustainability of Made in Italy products.

AV Group operates in the Life Science (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and hospitals), Beverage, Food, Cosmetics, Chemicals, and Packaging industries and potentially many others.

AV Group has been listed in STAR segment of Euronext since 14 May 2021 and has been included in the Euronext Tech Leaders index, dedicated to leading tech companies with high growth potential, since July 2022.

In 2022, Antares Vision Group recorded a turnover of €223 million. The Group operates in 60 countries, employs more than 1,300 people, and has a consolidated network of over 40 international partners.

ABOUT RFXCEL TECHNOLOGY

Part of Antares Vision Group, rfxcel provides leading-edge software solutions to help governments and commercial organizations build and manage their digital supply chain, lower costs, and protect their products and consumers. Blue-chip organizations in the life sciences (pharmaceuticals and medical devices), food and beverage, worldwide government, and consumer goods industries trust rfxcel’s Traceability System to power end-to-end supply chain solutions in track and trace, environmental monitoring, regulatory compliance, serialization, and visibility. Founded in 2003, the company is headquartered in the United States and has offices in the United Kingdom, the EU, Latin America, Russia, India, Japan, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Antares Vision Group and rfxcel Welcome Kevin Huey as Senior Director of Professional Services

Reno, Nevada, September 27, 2023. rfxcel, part of Antares Vison Group and a global leader in innovative supply chain traceability solutions, is pleased to announce that Kevin Huey has joined our team as Senior Director of Professional Services. With a background in supply chain management, project leadership, and a strong focus on nurturing talent within organizations, he brings wealth of customer-centric and operational experience to the team.

Kevin’s leadership style emphasizes people and processes. With a history of fostering the growth and professional advancement of technical teams, he is committed to motivating exceptional performance and creating an environment where people can thrive.

Kevin has held key roles at companies such as Ethicon Endo-Surgery, where he spearheaded critical initiatives in manufacturing engineering, operations program management, and supply chain readiness. At Biosense Webster, he established a Product Focus Team (PFT) structure to enhance lifecycle activities and collaborated extensively with different departments to identify and mitigate product and service risks. He also played a crucial role in shaping the supply chain during a company integration, ensuring seamless operations.

Most recently for Auris, he led a team of 16 engineers focused on process development and played a pivotal role in the manufacturing of first-in-human products. He also expanded their team through strategic recruitment efforts, ensuring a robust talent pool for ongoing projects.

“We are excited to welcome Kevin to the rfxcel family,” said rfxcel Chief Operations Officer Vikash Pushpraj. “His extensive experience and commitment to our core values of innovation, collaboration, and employee development align perfectly with our vision for the future.”

Kevin has a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University. This combination of technical expertise and business acumen helps him drive excellence in every facet of his work. He joins rfxcel poised to lead us into a new era of excellence in professional services, where innovation, people, and processes will drive our success.

Kevin Huey photo
AV Group and rfxcel welcome Kevin Huey to our team as Senior Director of Professional Services.

Seed Group Forges Pathway with rfxcel to Enhance Safety and Integrity of Supply Chains

rfxcel and Seed Group logos on blue background

Reno, Nevada, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, September 26, 2023. Seed Group, a company of the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, has announced a strategic partnership with rfxcel, a renowned leader in the field of traceability, compliance reporting, product authentication, and consumer engagement solutions. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in enhancing business security and success within the UAE market and beyond and empowering the integrity of supply chains and brand owners in multiple industries such life sciences, food, beverage, cosmetics, oil, and gas.

The partnership between Seed Group and rfxcel, which is part of Italian multinational Antares Vision Group, is poised to reshape the landscape of business expansion and innovation in the UAE and the broader region. Seed Group, renowned for its expertise in fostering strategic collaborations, will play a pivotal role in guiding rfxcel’s expansion into the UAE market.

By leveraging its comprehensive network, Seed Group will facilitate access to key decision-makers across both the government and private sectors. This collaboration will undoubtedly pave the way for the seamless integration of rfxcel’s leading-edge technologies and digital innovations into the region.

Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of Seed Group and the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are truly excited to join forces with rfxcel, a global leader that shares our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation. Through this strategic collaboration, we aim to deliver unparalleled value to businesses operating in the UAE. This partnership is a testament to our unwavering dedication to driving technological advancement and progress within the region.”

rfxcel CEO Glenn Abood also emphasized the partnership. “We see our strategic partnership with Seed Group as an opportunity to grow together in the UAE and beyond. We believe it is more than just building a business presence: We want to become Seed Group’s trusted partner as we help companies on their traceability journeys. We want to work together, leverage our respective strengths, and establish ourselves as leaders for innovation and business value.”

Founded in 2003, rfxcel emerged as an industry trailblazer by prioritizing the safety and integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Over the last two decades, it has expanded its solutions into diverse industries, including food, beverage, cosmetics, oil, and gas. Its groundbreaking track and trace software has revolutionized the way supply chain stakeholders manage their operations. Guided by a commitment to innovation and excellence, rfxcel strives to remain at the forefront of traceability technology, working one-on-one with clients to optimize their business operations to drive value for the future.

As the company embarks on this new chapter of growth and expansion, both Seed Group and rfxcel are poised to make lasting contributions to the advancement of supply chain transparency, compliance reporting, and product engagement. The combined expertise of these two industry leaders promises to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and strengthen the foundations of businesses across the UAE.

Seed Group is a notable force in the technology, healthcare, hospitality, and telecommunications landscapes in the Middle East. Over the past 20 years, it has formed successful strategic alliances with leading global companies representing diverse regions to accelerate sustainable market entry and presence within the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

For more information, contact rfxcel Senior Communications and Content Manager Garrison Spik at garrison@rfxcel.com.

About rfxcel

rfxcel, part of Antares Vision Group, is a leading provider of cloud-based supply chain transparency solutions. For 20 years, its mission has been to deliver value through scalable and interoperable software that ensures supply chain traceability, visibility, integrity, and regulatory compliance.

The company’s award-winning Traceability System offers solutions that create a digital supply chain with end-to-end visibility. Unit-level product data creates business value through innovations for product authentication, business intelligence, brand protection, and consumer engagement.

The rfxcel Traceability Hub provides a central repository from which governments and commercial organizations can gain visibility and control over every product in their supply chains. It can be configured to track any event, such as shipments, receipts, and customs clearance, helping to ensure that only legitimate products enter the supply chain, empowering citizens or governments to verify product authenticity, and providing full visibility to the inventory levels and locations of all tracked products. For more information, visit www.rfxcel.com.

About Seed Group

For over 20 years, Seed Group has formed strategic alliances with leading global companies representing diverse regions and industries. These companies have propelled their business interests and goals in the Middle East and North Africa region through the support and strong base of regional connections of the Seed Group. The Group’s goal is to create mutually beneficial partnerships with multinational organizations and to accelerate their sustainable market entry and presence within the MENA region. Seed Group has been a key point in the success of all its partners in the region, helping them reach their target customers and accelerate their businesses. The Private Office was established by Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum to directly invest in or assist potential business opportunities in the region, which meet The Private Office’s criteria. For more information, visit www.seedgroup.com.

Emidio Zorzella, Antares Vision Group’s Chairman, to Join the Healthcare Panel for the Sub-Saharan Africa Business & Investment Summit at the United Nations

Emidio Zorzella_ Chairman and CEO of Antares Vision Group

New York, 25 September 2023. Emidio Zorzella, Chairman and CEO of Antares Vision Group, will be presenting the work of Antares Vision Group, and investments the Company has made in fighting counterfeit and dangerous drugs in Africa. Emidio is attending the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly and speaking on health and technology at the Sub-Saharan Africa Business Investment Summit.

“Every year, counterfeit and dangerous drugs lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths in Africa,” Zorzella said. “Earlier this year, 60 children in The Gambia alone were poisoned by contaminated cough syrup. These needless losses are hurting families across the African continent, but this crisis is preventable and has reached a point where it can no longer be ignored.

“Antares Vision Group, with its rfxcel pharmaceutical track and trace technology, is proud to be working with the President of Guinea-Bissau, The Honorable Umaro Sissoco Embaló, as he takes the lead in Africa to stop counterfeit drugs with our traceability systems. We are proud to invest in Africa to deliver solutions to save the lives of so many people and we look forward to doing so across the continent.”

His Excellency Ambassador Serge Mombouli of the Republic of Congo, who also serves as the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in Washington, DC, offered his support for the goal of eliminating counterfeit drugs in Africa. “This is a priority for President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo,” he said, “and it is my pleasure to invite you to my country to meet him and his health officials to discuss adoption of the rfxcel system to provide drug safety and security for our people.”

Governments around the world are beginning to take control of their supply chains, as they realize how dependent we all are. Criminals, opportunists, and even terrorist groups have begun capitalizing on the weaknesses of the global supply chain, and Antares Vision Group, through its Government Services team, is helping elected officials and Government organizations to strengthen protections for the health and safety of the public. Governments and Antares Vision Group have found success by partnering with various stakeholders in the supply chain to increase patient safety, eliminate the funding sources of criminal organizations, and provide a return on investment to all stakeholders.

 

About Antares Vision Group

Antares Vision Group is driving digitalization of products and supply chains by leading traceability, inspection, and integrated data management. AV Group helps companies and institutions to achieve safety, quality, efficiency, and sustainability, enabling Trustparency®.

DIAMIND, AV Group’s integrated ecosystem of solutions, simplifies the technology environment and supports businesses growth by enabling a data-driven and tailored journey to digital innovation. Connecting physical products with digital identities, DIAMIND runs at the line, factory, warehouse, enterprise, and supply chain levels, and guarantees product quality (inspection systems and equipment) and end-to-end traceability (from raw materials to production, from distribution to the consumer and back) through integrated data management, applying artificial intelligence and potentially blockchain.

With a strong focus on innovation, the company collaborates with universities and innovation centers; it is part of the Italian National Research Centre for the development of RNA drugs and has developed a traceability platform for agri-food products in collaboration with MISE (Italian Ministry of Economic Development) to ensure the authenticity and sustainability of Made in Italy products.

AV Group operates in the Life Science (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and hospitals), Beverage, Food, Cosmetics, Chemicals, and Packaging industries and potentially many others.

AV Group has been listed in STAR segment of Euronext since 14 May 2021 and has been included in the Euronext Tech Leaders index, dedicated to leading tech companies with high growth potential, since July 2022.

In 2022, Antares Vision Group recorded a turnover of €223 million. The Group operates in 60 countries, employs more than 1,300 people, and has a consolidated network of over 40 international partners.

 

Antares Vision S.p.A.

Via del Ferro, 16 – 25039 Travagliato (BS) – Italy

T: +39 030 7283500

info@antaresvision.comwww.antaresvisiongroup.com

 

 

From Traceability Regulations Compliance to a Customized Service

Collaboration between Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Antares Vision Group continues with a new testing and validation software and a better supply of spare parts.

Travagliato (Brescia), September 13, 2023. The collaboration, born in 2015, between Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a leader in reproductive medicine, maternal health, and specialist areas within gastroenterology and urology, and Antares Vision Group, a technological partner in digitalization of products and supply chains for companies and institutions, and a leader in traceability and inspection for quality control, continues. After an initial approach following the entry into force of the serialization regulations, Ferring Group currently uses Antares Vision Group solutions on 23 lines in plants in Switzerland, the United States, China, the Czech Republic, Israel, Scotland and Indonesia.

Thanks to the collaboration with Antares Vision Group, Ferring Group has significantly reduced procurement times for spare parts with integrated supply chain processes that always ensure the availability of the minimum quantity in stock, increasing the efficiency of maintenance operations. For spare parts, it is a reduction of over 90% in procurement times.

“This is one of the main benefits originating from the collaboration with Antares Vision Group started in 2015,” states Fernando Monteiro, Global OT Applications Senior Manager at Ferring Pharmaceuticals Group. “We went through challenging times in a growing serialization world. Regulations have been evolving over the years, impacting our production planning, sometimes making it more complex.”

Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Antares Vision Group have jointly developed customized solutions to improve maintenance operations. In particular, since many Ferring sites use the same components — which is convenient considering that having different spare parts at each site would be extremely costly — and a shortage of stocks would jeopardize business continuity, Antares Vision Group and Ferring have put in place a list of spare parts capable of covering the needs of the various plants involved. These components are in stock at the Antares Vision Group headquarters in Italy, available to be shipped worldwide at any time.

Due to the robust international agreement and exceptional collaboration between the two firms, Ferring Pharmaceuticals has seamlessly met specific requests, consistently ensuring adherence to the regulatory standards of every country they serve.

Furthermore, Ferring Pharmaceuticals has increased the level of efficiency of the production process during ordinary maintenance operations, not only by increasing the availability of spare parts, but also by adopting new solution for testing and qualifications to maintain operational continuity at the highest levels also in case of new releases and software updates.

To facilitate testing and qualification, a solution was developed that combines both hardware and software and replicates the functionality of Ferring’s production lines. This system can simulate operations in non-production settings such as offices and labs, making validation more accessible. Operating offline and without real packaging material, it enables comprehensive testing without disrupting actual production timelines.

“Our collaboration with Ferring Pharmaceuticals has evolved since the beginning following the needs and requirements of the customer,” concludes Mattia Assanelli, Service Director of Antares Vision Group. “By paying attention to regulatory developments and deepening the knowledge of the processes of the different Ferring sites, we have been able to improve production and maintenance efficiency, with a drastic reduction in spare parts procurement times and with a system that tests software updates, excluding the risk of line downtime.”

 

About Antares Vision Group
Antares Vision Group is driving digitalization of products and supply chains by leading traceability, inspection, and integrated data management. AV Group helps companies and institutions to achieve safety, quality, efficiency, and sustainability, enabling Trustparency®.

DIAMIND, AV Group’s integrated ecosystem of solutions, simplifies the technology environment and supports businesses growth by enabling a data-driven and tailored journey to digital innovation. Connecting physical products with digital identities, DIAMIND runs at the line, factory, warehouse, enterprise, and supply chain levels, and guarantees product quality (inspection systems and equipment) and end-to-end traceability (from raw materials to production, from distribution to the consumer and back) through integrated data management, applying artificial intelligence and potentially blockchain.

AV Group operates in the Life Science (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and hospitals), Beverage, Food, Cosmetics, Chemicals, and Packaging industries and potentially many others.

AV Group has been listed in STAR segment of Euronext since 14 May 2021 and has been included in the Euronext Tech Leaders index, dedicated to leading tech companies with high growth potential, since July 2022.

In 2022, Antares Vision Group recorded a turnover of €223 million. The Group operates in 60 countries, employs more than 1,100 people, and has a consolidated network of over 40 international partners. www.antaresvisiongroup.com

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group committed to helping people around the world build families and live better lives. Headquartered in Saint-Prex, Switzerland, Ferring is a leader in reproductive medicine and maternal health, and in specialty areas within gastroenterology and urology. Ferring has been developing treatments for mothers and babies for over 50 years and has a portfolio covering treatments from conception to birth. Founded in 1950, privately-owned Ferring employs over 7,000 people worldwide. The company has operating subsidiaries in more than 50 countries and markets its products in over 100 countries.

Contacts for more information:

Raffaella Mora | PR Specialist Antares Vision Group
raffaella.mora@partner.antaresvision.com
+39 349 0709470

Press Office
Soluzione Group S.R.L. – Via F. Lana, 1 – 25020 Flero (BS) – Italy
T: +39 030 3539159
Giusy Martin | Cell. +39 3881681168
martin@soluzionegroup.com

Antares Vision S.p.A.
Via del Ferro, 16 – 25039 Travagliato (BS) – Italy
T: +39 030 7283500
info@antaresvision.com – www.antaresvisiongroup.com

Antares Vision Group, Through rfxcel Technology, Becomes the First DSCSA Solution Provider to Join NABP’s Pulse Interoperable Partner Program

A pharmacist in a white lab coat scanning a box of prescription medicine

AV Group, which has a long history of working with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, extends its commitment to DSCSA compliance by joining the Partner Program.

Travagliato (Brescia), August 29, 2023. Antares Vision Group, an Italian multinational and a leading provider of track and trace and quality control systems, today announced that it has partnered with the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) through the Pulse Interoperable Partner program. This new initiative aims to accelerate interoperability in the drug supply chain by providing a framework for solution providers to integrate directly with Pulse by NABP™, an inclusive, accessible, and secure digital platform that simplifies the process of achieving Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) compliance.

Nearly 10 years ago, the DSCSA was enacted to ensure the safety of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain. The law, which has a deadline of November 2023, requires cooperation and interoperability among a wide range of industry stakeholders and solution providers. As the deadline approaches, these actors must continue to work together to ensure they will meet the complex requirements of the DSCSA.

NABP has been and will continue to be a key stakeholder in the DSCSA effort, representing the needs and interests of state regulators. This includes Pulse by NABP, which facilitates DSCSA compliance across the supply chain by providing additional functionality and data required to ensure seamless interoperability among participants. Antares Vision Group, through rfxcel technology, recognizes the importance of NABP’s contributions and is proud to be the first solution provider to sign up for this partner program.

“We have been working with the NABP for years and have watched their continued commitment to the DSCSA effort,” said rfxcel Senior Vice President of Product and Strategy Herb Wong. “Their involvement offers critical insight into the needs of the state boards of pharmacy and the small dispenser community and reflects the feedback that we’ve been hearing from our customers. We are excited to participate in the Pulse Interoperable Partner Program to ensure safe pharmaceuticals for patients and consumers.”

”Antares Vision Group became the first solution provider to be a Pulse Interoperable Partner, signing on within hours of the program being announced at  NABP’s recent Interoperability Summit,” said NABP Executive Director/Secretary Lemrey “Al” Carter, PharmD, MS, RPh. “They have been an ardent supporter of Pulse and we’re delighted to continue the collaboration to secure the prescription drug supply chain and protect public health.”

For more information, contact Herb Wong, senior vice president of product and strategy, at hwong@rfxcel.com.

About Antares Vision Group

Antares Vision Group is driving digitalization of products and supply chains by leading traceability, inspection, and integrated data management. AV Group helps companies and institutions to achieve safety, quality, efficiency, and sustainability, enabling Trustparency®.

DIAMIND, AV Group’s integrated ecosystem of solutions, simplifies the technology environment and supports businesses’ growth by enabling a data-driven and tailored journey to digital innovation. Connecting physical products with digital identities, DIAMIND runs at the line, factory, warehouse, enterprise, and supply chain levels, and helps guarantee product quality (inspection systems and equipment) and end-to-end traceability (from raw materials to production, from distribution to the consumer and back) through integrated data management.

AV Group operates in the life science (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and hospitals), beverage, food, cosmetics, chemicals, and packaging industries and potentially many others.

AV Group has been listed in STAR segment of Euronext since May 2021 and has been included in the Euronext Tech Leaders index, dedicated to leading tech companies with high growth potential, since July 2022.

In 2022, Antares Vision Group recorded a turnover of €223 million. The Group operates in 60 countries, employs more than 1,300 people, and has a consolidated network of over 40 international partners. To learn more, please visit antaresvisiongroup.com and rfxcel.com.

Antares Vision Group, Through rfxcel Technology, Joins the Gateway Certified™ Program to Lead Verification Router Service (VRS) Standardized Testing Initiative

 

Serialized boxes of medicine on a manufacturing line in a pharmaceutical production facility

AV Group, which led an FDA-approved pilot to extend testing of the VRS, continues its industry leadership by helping to test industry readiness ahead of this year’s DSCSA deadline.

Travagliato (Brescia), August 22, 2023. Antares Vision Group, an Italian multinational and a leading provider of track and trace and quality control systems, today announced that it has joined the Gateway Certified™ program for Verification Router Service (VRS) verification to help pharmaceutical stakeholders prepare for upcoming serialization and drug product verification requirements in the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).

The industry established the VRS specifications to help verify the authenticity of products for salable returns. Many providers have developed solutions based on the VRS specification and have voluntarily collaborated in testing to ensure compliance and interoperability.

The Gateway Certified™ program for VRS Verify was established in response to industry concerns that manual methods and self-testing among more than a dozen solution providers was time-consuming, was not scalable, and lacked independent oversight.

Recognizing the importance of connectivity and interoperability, Antares Vision Group, through rfxcel technology, is committed to independent and objective VRS verification testing. “We recognize that solution providers need a more scalable, repeatable, and open testing approach,” said rfxcel CEO Glenn Abood. “We see the limitations of the current approach and see the potential impact on robust, reliable systems as well as adaptation to emerging requirements.”

“We appreciate Antares Vision Group’s leadership and ongoing commitment to facilitate information interoperability and product verification in the pharmaceutical supply chain,” said Gary Lerner, President of Gateway Checker Corporation. “We encourage all solution providers interested in establishing demonstrable VRS conformance to join the Gateway Certified™ program.”

The Gateway Certified™ program provides independent, objective, automated use-case testing to assure that pharmaceutical drug product verification requests and responses consistently meet industry and FDA regulatory requirements. It examines a system’s conformance to requirements and provides objective evidence that it consistently meets industry and regulatory needs.

Herb Wong, rfxcel senior vice president of product and strategy, will be facilitating a Roundtable Discussion about the VRS at the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) 2023 Traceability Seminar in Washington, D.C. To learn more, click the image below and visit Antares Vision Group at Table-Top 21 at the seminar.

About Antares Vision Group

Antares Vision Group is driving digitalization of products and supply chains by leading traceability, inspection, and integrated data management. AV Group helps companies and institutions to achieve safety, quality, efficiency, and sustainability, enabling Trustparency®.

DIAMIND, AV Group’s integrated ecosystem of solutions, simplifies the technology environment and supports businesses’ growth by enabling a data-driven and tailored journey to digital innovation. Connecting physical products with digital identities, DIAMIND runs at the line, factory, warehouse, enterprise, and supply chain levels, and helps guarantee product quality (inspection systems and equipment) and end-to-end traceability (from raw materials to production, from distribution to the consumer and back) through integrated data management.

AV Group operates in the life science (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and hospitals), beverage, food, cosmetics, chemicals, and packaging industries and potentially many others.

AV Group has been listed in STAR segment of Euronext since May 2021 and has been included in the Euronext Tech Leaders index, dedicated to leading tech companies with high growth potential, since July 2022.

In 2022, Antares Vision Group recorded a turnover of €223 million. The Group operates in 60 countries, employs more than 1,300 people, and has a consolidated network of over 40 international partners. To learn more, please visit antaresvisiongroup.com and rfxcel.com.

For further information, contact Herb Wong, senior vice president of product and strategy, at hwong@rfxcel.com.

About Gateway Checker Corporation

Gateway Checker™ provides a software as a service platform to facilitate product traceability, DSCSA compliance, and unambiguously verify the interoperability readiness of serialized pharmaceutical transaction records. Drug manufacturers, repackagers, wholesalers, and distributors can quickly and continuously test, validate, and certify adherence to GS1 US Rx EPCIS and VRS product verification application standards.

Gateway Checker is the GS1 US Rx Certified Conformance Testing Service, and is owned and operated by the Gateway Checker Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of BrandSure, LLC.

For more information about the Gateway Certified™ program, including VRS System Validation, contact Eran Strod at certified@gatewaychecker.com.

Antares Vision Group Attains ISO/IEC 27001 Cybersecurity Certification for Serialization and Global Regulatory Compliance

Obtained through rfxcel, the information security management systems certification demonstrates the Group’s ability to protect and manage customers’ data on a global scale, complementing rfxcel’s ISO 9001 certification.

Travagliato (Brescia), July 11, 2023. Antares Vision Group (EXM, AV:IM), a leading provider of track and trace and quality control systems, through rfxcel’s San Ramon location, has attained ISO/IEC 27001 certification for information security management systems (ISMS), an important and significant achievement in the supply chain software solutions industry.

The certification demonstrates rfxcel’s incorporation of best-in-class technologies and best practices to preserve the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of customer data while proactively managing risks. As customers globally share serialization and other supply chain data, their needs for security, system controls, and governance grows. rfxcel’s  continuous advancements within its controls and technology help customers comply with international security standards and regulations.

rfxcel Vice President of Global Quality Management Amit Sewak said the certification is a clear statement. “It means we are committed to protecting our clients from global security threats. We have an incredible organization that is focused on developing and delivering secure solutions that focus on our customers’ needs and the complex regulatory landscape they function within.”

Sewak added that the ISO/IEC 27001 certification confirms that the structure of rfxcel’s Quality Management System and ISMS exemplifies compliance internationally. “Regardless of the regulatory standards that clients function within, rfxcel is prepared today and for the future,” he said.

Glenn Abood, CEO of rfxcel, said the certification should give customers peace of mind about working with Antares Vision Group. “We have strategies to manage the performance, quality, and effectiveness of our products and services,” he explained. “Our customers have the assurance that their data is strictly controlled, stored, and protected.”

In addition to the ISO/IEC 27001 certification, rfxcel’s existing ISO 9001 certification conveys its commitment to customers and continual improvement. “Our customers know our management systems and architecture are efficient. They know we perform at a high level and use leading technologies to support them,” Sewak said.

For more information, contact rfxcel Senior Communications and Content Manager Garrison Spik at garrison@rfxcel.com.

About Antares Vision Group

Antares Vision Group is driving digitalization of products and supply chains by leading traceability, inspection, and integrated data management. AV Group helps companies and institutions to achieve safety, quality, efficiency, and sustainability, enabling Trustparency™. DIAMIND, AV Group’s integrated ecosystem of solutions, simplifies the technology environment and supports businesses growth by enabling a data-driven and tailored journey to digital innovation. Connecting physical products with digital identities, DIAMIND runs at the line, factory, warehouse, enterprise, and supply chain levels, and guarantees product quality (inspection systems and equipment) and end-to-end traceability (from raw materials to production, from distribution to the consumer and back) through integrated data management, applying artificial intelligence and potentially blockchain. AV Group operates in the Life Science (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and hospitals), Beverage, Food, Cosmetics, Chemicals, and Packaging industries and potentially many others. AV Group has been listed in STAR segment of Euronext since 14 May 2021 and has been included in the Euronext Tech Leaders index, dedicated to leading tech companies with high growth potential, since July 2022. In 2022, Antares Vision Group recorded a turnover of €223 million. The Group operates in 60 countries, employs more than 1,100 people, and has a consolidated network of over 40 international partners. For further information, visit www.antaresvisiongroup.com.

Antares Vision Group Becomes the First DSCSA Compliance Software Awarded a Spot on the GSA MAS Contract with Lovell Government Services

Antares Vision Group Becomes the First DSCSA Compliance Software Awarded a Spot on the GSA MAS Contract with Lovell Government Services

The distinction is a result of a partnership between AV Group subsidiary rfxcel and service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) Lovell Government Services that aims to protect patients served by government entities.

Travagliato (Brescia), June 28, 2023. Antares Vision Group, through rfxcel, a leading provider of supply chain traceability and compliance solutions, has been awarded a spot on the General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract. With partner Lovell Government Services, a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB), this significant achievement demonstrates the companies’ commitment to federal and state government entities that operate pharmacies and the patients they serve.

Through its partnership with Lovell, rfxcel is the first Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) compliance software provider to be awarded a spot on the GSA MAS contract, a procurement vehicle for government agencies to purchase goods and services from pre-approved vendors. The contract includes pre-negotiated terms and conditions that simplify the procurement process.

The DSCSA is designed to improve the safety and security of the drug supply chain in the United States by rapidly detecting and removing harmful drugs. It requires manufacturers, distributors, dispensers (i.e., pharmacies and health systems), and other entities to track, trace, and verify certain medicines as they are received and dispensed.

rfxcel’s DSCSA solution for government dispensers is already in use by the Ohio Department of Veterans Affairs. Lovell is a contracted vendor for many government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Defense Logistics Agency, and the Department of Defense.

“Listing on the GSA MAS contract through Lovell is a win-win for everyone,” said rfxcel Vice President of Government Services Greg Moulthrop. “First, it protects patients who use government pharmacies. But it also enables government agencies to easily and efficiently purchase our DSCSA compliance software solutions and gives government customers the dual benefit of complying with the DSCSA while working toward their SDVOSB procurement goals.”

“We are excited to be partnering with Antares Vision Group, through rfxcel, on this important initiative,” said Chris Lovell, CEO of Lovell Government Services. “rfxcel has made it their mission to help federal pharmacies meet DSCSA compliance requirements by November 2023 and Lovell is honored to play a part in it. DSCSA isn’t just about protecting the supply chain, it is also about protecting patients.”

For more information, contact rfxcel Senior Government Affairs Advisor Kevin Smith at ksmith@rfxcel.com or 563-590-9408.

About Antares Vision Group & rfxcel

Antares Vision Group, through rfxcel, is a leading provider of supply chain traceability and compliance solutions. The company’s mission is to deliver value to its customers through a comprehensive suite of software solutions that ensure supply chain integrity, visibility, and regulatory compliance. rfxcel’s solutions have been used by leading companies in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and consumer goods. Learn more here.

About Lovell Government Services

Lovell Government Services is a trusted government vendor since 2013 with a proven track record of success. Lovell is a two-time Inc. 5000 honoree and leader in the federal space. They partner with medical and pharmaceutical companies looking to better serve veteran and military patient populations, increase their federal revenue stream, and win government contracts. Click here to learn more.