Digital Signature Trials to Start

"The first pilot projects testing a digital signature standard that's being developed for worldwide use by the pharmaceutical industry are due to be launched within the next three weeks, according to officials involved in the effort.

The standard, called Secure Access for Everyone (SAFE), is designed to enable the use of legally enforceable electronic signatures over public-key infrastructure (PKI) networks. Backers envision the digital signatures being used in business-to-business transactions and communication with government regulators.

Among other benefits, the SAFE credentials are expected to make it faster and more cost-efficient for pharmaceutical companies and researchers to submit applications and get approval for drug trials than with current paper-based processes, said Guy Tallent, SAFE's program director."

From this BioITWorld article.