R&S Northeast partners with Spherity to bring digital credentials to the pharmaceutical supply chain

Fountain Run, KY – August 28, 2025 – R&S Northeast, a Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributor (VAWD) and trusted leader in branded and generic pharmaceutical distribution, today announced a strategic partnership with Spherity, a global provider of decentralized identity technology, to enhance the security and traceability of pharmaceutical products. This partnership will bring next-generation digital credentials to the pharmaceutical supply chain, helping ensure that every prescription drug product and trading partner is verified, secure, and compliant.

By implementing DSCSA Authorized Trading Partner (ATP) Credentials using Open Credentialing Initiative (OCI) standards, R&S Northeast is making it easier for the industry to verify legitimacy in real time. OCI uses global technologies such as Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs), Verifiable Credentials (VCs), and GS1 standards to make sure trading partners are truly authorized. The result? Faster, safer, and more transparent supply chain operations.

“With the DSCSA final implementation deadline approaching, every company in the supply chain needs a way to quickly verify partners and products,” said Steve Wilhelm, R&S Vice President of Operations. “This isn’t just about checking a box for compliance. It’s about protecting patients, our partners, and the integrity of the supply chain. With digital ATP credentials, we’re giving everyone the confidence that they’re working with trusted partners—because trust shouldn’t be optional.”

Key Benefits of This Partnership:

• Real-Time ATP Verification: Instantly confirm that both trading partners are active, authorized, and legitimate participants in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

• Protection of IT Systems: Reduce cyber risk by blocking unauthorized or inactive entities from accessing compliance portals and sensitive product data.

• Industry-Wide Operational Efficiency: Streamline ATP management for both responders (manufacturers) and requesters (wholesalers, dispensers, regulators) resulting in fewer delays and verification bottlenecks.

• Support for Ethical Supply Chain Practices: Reinforce patient safety by ensuring that only validated, credentialed organizations participate in the distribution of pharmaceuticals.

As threats from digital impersonation grow more sophisticated, adopting verifiable digital credentials demonstrates R&S Northeast’s commitment to trust, safety, and transparency.

"Digital identity solutions like ours ensure trust, efficiency, and transparency in critical industries," said Eddie Pak, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Spherity. "We’re proud to support R&S Northeast’s mission to create a safe and efficient ATP check for the pharmaceutical supply chain."

By embracing this technology, R&S Northeast is setting a new standard for protecting patients, supporting ethical practices, and making life easier for everyone in the supply chain.

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About R&S Northeast

Family owned and operated for over 50 years; R&S Northeast has been a trusted supplier of healthcare products since 1973. From brand and generic pharmaceuticals to medical and surgical supplies, R&S Northeast is committed to delivering top-quality products and unmatched customer service. Our journey began with a simple promise: to meet the needs of our customers with reliability and care, a promise we’ve kept for decades.

About Spherity

Spherity Inc., a global pioneer in digital identity software, revolutionizes secure identity integration for enterprises, machines, products, data, and algorithms. Leveraging self-sovereign identity (SSI), Spherity streamlines compliance with data protection and security regulations. Among its solutions, Spherity offers a Drummond-certified Authorized Trading Partner (ATP) Credentialing solution for DSCSA compliance, automating identity and license verification with golden master data records. The solution won the HDA Distribution Management Award for strengthening the security of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain.