Plymouth, Minnesota, USA: Temperature-controlled pharmaceutical sales are growing at twice the rate of the industry overall, driven by the shift to highly sensitive biologics, biosimilars and precision-medicine treatments, says Pelican BioThermal.
This exponential growth is causing the demand for temperature-controlled logistics to surge. By 2022, 30 of the top 50 global biopharma products will require cold chain handling — and temperature excursions already cost the biopharma industry $35 billion annually, the company says.
Pelican BioThermal surveyed key opinion leaders in the biopharma industry to better understand the emerging challenges with this dramatically evolving industry.
The report reveals the compelling findings, concerns, trends and technologies that are top-of-mind for leaders in biopharma production and distribution. The report also offers a forecast of what the survey findings bode for the future of the industry:
The key survey findings are:
• Temperature excursions happen frequently — and they’re not always minor
• Visibility is critical to prevent losing quality control across the supply chain
• Temperature monitoring isn’t enough — temperature is only one element that can negatively impact efficacy and safety
• Business agility requires shipping flexibility — products are moving further and through more climatic zones than ever
• Sea transport is emerging as an increasing viable, cost-effective option
• Relentless competition and margin pressure demands require optimizing total cost of ownership
• Reusable, rental shippers are increasingly used to protect and deliver highly sensitive products

The report is available on-line at:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/29uju92ne3fufmv/2019%20Pelican%20BioThermal%20Cold%20Chain%20Survey.pdf?dl=0