Page 12 - The STAT Trade Times September 2022 Issue

specialreport

FUTURE OF MEDICINE

LOGISTICS MATTERS

Why supply chain resiliency is so critical to temperature-controlled pharmaceutical
logistics and how new infrastructure and digital technology tools are going to bring
immense value to customers and stakeholders.
Reji John
harmaceutical supply chains have become global and com-
plex. With more outsourcing, new modalities, and novel ways
to reach patients, it’s critical to ensure that they can withstand
Pshocks. Natural disasters, international trade tensions, cyber
attacks, and global pandemics are just a few of the shocks that can
immobilize pharma companies. The reality is that the occurrences of
such shocks are far more frequent today than a decade ago.
A McKinsey report finds that that in the pharma industry
cyber attacks and trade disputes create the greatest risk of
supply-chain disruption. “That’s primarily because of the
industry’s abundant proprietary knowledge, capital intensity,
international data flows, and moderate level of digitiza-
tion. Trade disputes pose a threat because of the industry’s
high levels of international trade and constant pressure to
relocate parts of the supply chain for economic and other
reasons,” says the report.
However, industry stakeholders that include research and
development companies, pharma and bio-pharma manufactur-
ers, logistics companies and industry associations are beginning
to address those challenges more seriously and find ways to deal
with them more efficiently as and when they occur. Adding to these
challenges are the rapid innovations in therapies and life sciences
products. These innovations require a much more complex logistics
and supply chain design.
Cell and gene therapy (CGT) have been heralded as a paradigm shift in
the treatment landscape. The complexities of cell and gene therapies stem
from a requirement for an end-to-end traceability of viable cells to manu-
facturing to bedside infusion, and long term follow-up. Further, the need
to provide a greater degree of transparency of manufacturing processes to
patients and healthcare professionals, including regulatory requirements,
makes it critical to think through innovative operating model designs.
A recent report by Pharma.Aero attempted to analyse the potential
size of the CGT market and what logistics capabilities it requires besides
the constraints and challenges it faces.
“Due to the fact these therapies are based on genetic cell compo-
nents and life cells related to complex development pathways, the CGT
places significant challenges on the current clinical and commercial
supply chain. The logistics sector needs to collaborate directly with
researchers and manufacturers to understand the specific needs, de-
mands of the CGT products and define together the solutions for safe
and efficient transportation,” says the report.
Pharma.Aero is a cross-industry collaboration of pharma shippers,
CEIV certified cargo communities, airport operators, and other air
cargo industry stakeholders.
10 | SEPTEMBER 2022 www.stattimes.com