Goals

I will: * Provide a technological and socio-economic framework for securing Ghana's drug supply chain. * Raise funds to implement the initiative. (A modest grant has already been secured, and four additional grant applications have been submitted). * Design and implement a scalable technology-based back-end solution to authenticate drugs with cell phones (Phase 1 completed and tested, phase 2 in progress). * Provide expertise in scaling out project from Ghana to Nigeria (2011), then via the French Economic community UEMOA to Francophone West Africa by 2013. * Contribute to awareness generation via creation of additional multimedia content for consumer education. (mPedigree has already produced a documentary on fake drugs titled 'If Symptoms Persist': http://www.mpedigree.org/home/symptoms.php) The Milestones ? Aug 07: Grant funding acquisition and implementation planning for non-profit, mPedigree. Initial consultation with Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. ? Nov 07: Acquisition of first ever reverse-billed shortcode on all Ghanaian cellular networks (multinational phone companies). ? Dec 07: Comprehensive industry survey detailing needs of drug manufacturers, with pricing intelligence. ? Jan 08: Initial technology trial in Ghana ? April 08: Production and national telecast of 'If Symptoms Persist', an awareness-raising documentary on fake drugs. Accessible online. ? July 08: Collaboration with Ghanaian drug regulators on inaugural West African counterfeiting conference. ? Oct 08: Gates foundation Grand Explorations grant submission, among 4 other grant applications for mPedigree (non-profit). ? Nov 08: MPedigree featured on BBC World, Business Week and named a 2009 Technology Pioneer at the World Economic Forum. ? Jan 09: MPedigree fully sponsored by Nokia to attend 2009 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Nokia identified mPedigree as a top innovator in all emerging markets it services. Mr. Gogo is also invited by the US Department of Commerce to help craft Intellectual Property and anti-counterfeiting strategies relevant to West Africa, during upcoming conference.

Plan

The mPedigree project has started with a technology trial in Ghana in the first quarter of 2008. The key partners in securing Ghana's drug chain with the proposed mobile-based method are: patients & consumers (and consumer associations), drug and phone industry (drug manufacturers, health workers, retailers, importers and mobile phone companies) and the Government of Ghana (via the Ghanaian FDA, the Ghana Food and Drugs Board, the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health). Agreements have been secured with all phone companies, and working relationships have been established with the Ghanaian FDA, in addition to relevant consumer groups and existing anti-counterfeit efforts in the nation. Four grant applications have been submitted to further fund the project, as we seek socially-minded financial alliances. I have entered into dialogue with the Director General of the Nigerian FDA as a segway for future project growth and sustainability. The Roll-out: Details The vision is to grow out of West Africa, expanding to the African continent via regulatory and trade groups, then advance the solution to India and Latin America within 10 years. Ghana has completed its pilot, and has attracted interest from the Nigerian drug regulatory agency. All the boardroom pitches have been concluded, and upon financing, a trial will be implemented in Nigeria. During the trial, mPedigree will follow-on with advocacy work in French-speaking West Africa via UEMOA, their trade block organization. Initial pitches have been concluded with UEMOA, and Kenya, for subsequent East African expansion. Nigeria