As the sophistication of pharmaceuticals increases, so too does the need for proper cold chain storage. Modern medicine becomes more advanced every day, which places a greater importance and challenge on the cold chain storage industry. Ensuring that pharmaceuticals arrive on time, in their intended state, can truly make the difference between life and death for a patient. As Tom Grubb, Manager of American Airlines cold chain strategy told pharmexec.com, “This is the most critical level. We are talking about the process of transporting medications and treatments in order to keep them safe and effective all the way to the patient.”
Why Cold Chain Storage Has Become More Important
The two main factors driving an increased emphasis on cold chain shipping are
- Technology
- The Global Marketplace
As mentioned, the advances in modern medicine have increased the delicacy and sensitivity of pharmaceuticals. As pharmaceutical companies push into areas of biologics, gene-editing, personalized medications, and immunotherapy, it’ll become more important to have effective cold chain shipping options. Pharmaceuticals could previously be shipped in wide temperature ranges. Over time, those temperature ranges have shrunk, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility that soon pharmaceuticals will need to maintain a temperature range of one or two degrees while being shipped.
With that, however, comes an added challenge. Previously, pharmaceuticals were simply shipped domestically, or at least within the same climates. Now, you have pharmaceuticals being shipped from one continent to another in a short amount of time, exposing the drugs to a wide array of outside temperatures. These longer distances can also lead to more uncertainty with shipments, and shipping becomes significantly riskier. Shipments must maintain their intended temperature for longer periods of time, accounting for the increase in travel and unexpected delays, such as weather and customs checkpoints.
It’s More Than Just Cold Chain
Although cold chain is the expression commonly used, shipping pharmaceuticals has become an issue of maintaining a controlled room temperature. Being “temperature sensitive” when shipping is important. This can still be challenging, as shipments are exposed to a vast array of temperatures. While on the open sea or sitting on a highway baking in the sun, it’s a struggle to keep pharmaceuticals cool. But at night, or in colder climates, it can be a challenge to keep them warm.
Susan Li, a UPS manager involved with the supply-chain process said, “It adds a lot of pressure to the last mile. More products are protected, and not just those refrigerated. It has expanded into the controlled room temperature products previously shipped naked.”
Using a product such as the Suretemp Pallet Cover can make a tremendous difference. These pallet covers trap warmth to avoid freezing temperatures, but also reflect sunlight to help avoid temperature excursions. Once the pharmaceuticals have arrived safely, the pallet covers can be easily disposed up, making them a cheap, convenient, and effective option for pharmaceutical shipments.
