Texas Instruments and VeriSign Collaborate on Authenticated RFID Model for the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

(I-Newswire) June 2, 2005 - This Authenticated RFID model proposes an enhancement to item-level product security in real-time by creating stronger authentication between the tag and any Authenticated RFID reader from the point of manufacture to the point of sale. 3M, a leading provider of security solutions including RFID tracking and authentication systems, will supply the Authenticated RFID readers to support this new model. By initially deploying the technology at the point of manufacturing and the point of dispensing, the pharmaceutical industry can benefit from a higher level of item-level authentication to thwart counterfeit products.

This Authenticated RFID model employs real-time, off-network authentication at the dispensing pharmacy, a first step that can be implemented quickly with minimal investments in current infrastructure. The integration of RFID and PKI technologies would facilitate identification of unique items, automate data collection and provide authentication at multiple read points as a product moves through the supply chain.

Through the use of standards-based public key technology, digital signatures and data encryption, the Authenticated RFID model would enable enterprises to create and validate "ownership" during multiple states of shipping and receiving. The use of PKI would enable products to be authenticated by a trusted third party, and encrypt information sent between parties. VeriSign currently provides encryption and authentication services for 93 percent of the Fortune 500 and the top ten U.S. banks.

"This new model is an important step forward in the fight against counterfeit drugs, extending the track and trace capabilities of RFID by adding real-time off-network authentication," said Julie England, vice president of Texas Instruments and general manager of Texas Instruments RFid Systems. "Working with the ISO/IEC and EPCglobal Inc. international standards organizations, we're seeking to leverage existing technologies and infrastructure to address the need for item-level pharmaceutical authentication to help provide a safe and secure supply chain."

"One of the more difficult challenges faced by manufacturers and retailers alike is trying to determine the custody of a product at the various stages of its journey along the supply chain," said Brian Matthews, vice president of VeriSign's Naming and Directory Services. "VeriSign is very familiar with using authentication to verify who's real and who's not in online transactions. We're bringing that expertise to bear on the problem of defining "what's real," and on recording ownership of products as they move through a complex shipping process that begins with manufacture and ends with the display on store shelves."

Multi-tiered Model for the Problem of Product Counterfeiting and Diversion
Product counterfeiting and diversion is a significant problem today, particularly in the pharmaceutical supply chain. This problem threatens corporate revenues, and more importantly, consumer safety. The Authenticated RFID model envisions bringing together a combination of hardware and service-based architecture to provide manufacturers with multiple lines of defense in addressing this issue. The Authenticated RFID model as proposed today has the following features:

Unique RFID Tags - The first line of defense in the model is the RFID tag or transponder. During manufacturing, the tag manufacturer "locks" data onto the tag, including a Unique Identification (UID) number and the Product Manufacturer Identifier (PMID) number, to create a secure and unalterable code.
Digital Signing of Tags - During the product manufacturing process, tag data is digitally "signed" with the product manufacturer's private key and the signature is locked into the tag's memory. The tag is then applied to the product. A digital signature is then used by Authenticated RFID readers to "validate" the tagged pharmaceutical product at the pharmacy or anywhere in the supply chain.
Supply Chain Event Validation – As the tagged products move throughout the supply chain, Authenticated RFID readers write chain-of-custody event markers on the tag. An added layer of tag validation is then implemented by comparing the tag event markers to data from full chain-of-custody systems of record in the supply chain. This represents a third line of defense.
This multi-tiered approach to improving chain of custody controls within the pharmaceutical supply chain would provide manufacturers, distributors and retailers with added levels of security that they need to deploy authenticated RFID solutions. For more information on the Texas Instruments and VeriSign collaboration on this non-proprietary, authenticated RFID model, download the white paper, "Securing the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain with RFID and Public-key infrastructure (PKI) Technologies," at http://www.ti.com/rfid/docs/customer/eped-form.shtml.

About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments is the world's largest integrated manufacturer of radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders and reader systems. Capitalizing on its competencies in high-volume semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics packaging, TI is a visionary leader and at the forefront of establishing new markets and international standards for RFID applications. For more information, contact TI-RFid Systems at 1-888-937-6536 (North America) or +1 972-575-4364 (International), or visit the Web site at www.ti-rfid.com.

Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers' real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries. Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at www.ti.com.

About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN) operates intelligent infrastructure services that enable businesses and individuals to find, connect, secure, and transact across today's complex global networks. Additional news and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.

Media Contacts:
Ellen Zeidler
Texas Instruments RFid Systems
(214) 567-4092
ezeidler@ti.com

Kim Novino
Bridgeman Communications
(617) 742-7270
kim@bridgeman.com

Patrick Burns
VeriSign, Inc.
(703) 948-4471
pburns@verisign.com

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause TI's and/or VeriSign's actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, (1) the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such factors as the risk that TI's and/or VeriSign's announced collaboration may not result in additional products, services, customers, profits, revenues, or be launched as described herein; (2) increased competition and pricing pressures; (3) the uncertainty as to the ability of TI and/or VeriSign to successfully develop and market new products and services and customer acceptance of any new products or services, including the Authenticated RFID model described herein; and (4) the possibility that TIs and/or VeriSign's announced Authenticated RFID model may not result in additional customers, profits or revenues. The collaboration between Texas Instruments and VeriSign is informal and concerns a high-level conceptual framework for the delivery of authenticated RFID services. The parties have not entered any binding agreements concerning the development of the Authenticated RFID Model or the development, distribution, or deployment of specific solutions or implementing technologies. More information about potential factors that could affect TI's and/or VeriSign's business and/or financial results are included in TI's and VeriSign's respective filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including their respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. TI and VeriSign undertake no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

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