The Ultimate Guide to Pharmaceutical Transport

Author: Dorinda

Dec. 09, 2024

Chemicals

The Ultimate Guide to Pharmaceutical Transport

The Ultimate Guide to Pharmaceutical Transport

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Best Practices for Temperature-Controlled Transportation of Pharmaceutical Products Throughout the Cold Chain

Life Sciences




The safe and secure transportation of pharmaceutical products is essential to ensure that patients receive the medications they need to manage their health. However, transporting pharmaceutical products is a complex process that requires careful planning, &#;temperature monitoring&#;&#;, specialized packaging, and adherence to regulatory requirements.

In this ultimate guide to pharmaceutical transport, we will provide an in-depth overview of the various aspects involved in transporting pharmaceutical products, including an overview of shipping regulations, the steps involved in transporting pharmaceuticals, common challenges, best practices, and more.

By following this guide, shippers can support the safe and secure transportation of their pharmaceutical products, while also complying with regulatory requirements and mitigating risk.

An Overview of Pharmaceutical Transport

Pharmaceutical transport refers to the movement of drugs, medications, vaccines, and other pharmaceutical products from one location to another. This can include transport across local, national, and international borders.

Pharmaceutical transport is critical to ensure that drugs and medical supplies are available to patients when and where they are needed. However, transporting pharmaceutical products is not a simple process, and it involves careful consideration of various factors, including temperature control, product handling, and packaging.

One critical factor in pharmaceutical transport is the type of medicines that are being shipped. There are several types of medicines that may be shipped, including ambient, cryogenic, and refrigerated.

Ambient medicines

Medicines that can be transported at room temperature, typically between 15°C and 25°C. Examples of ambient medicines include tablets, capsules, and powders.

Cryogenic medicines

Medicines that require extremely cold temperatures to maintain their stability, typically below -150°C. These products may include vaccines, blood products, and tissue samples.

Refrigerated medicines

Medicines that require cooling during transport, typically between 2°C and 8°C. Examples of refrigerated medicines include insulin, some vaccines, and biologic drugs.

Understanding the different types of medicines and their temperature requirements is crucial to ensure their safe and effective transport.

An Overview of Shipping Regulations for Pharma

Shipping pharmaceutical products involves complying with a complex set of regulations to ensure that products are transported safely, securely, and efficiently. The regulations vary by country, region, and mode of transport. Here, we provide an overview of the main regulations governing the shipment of pharmaceutical products.

Good Distribution Practices (GDP)

Good Distribution Practices (GDP) are a set of guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure that pharmaceutical products are transported and stored in a manner that maintains their quality, safety, and efficacy. GDP covers all aspects of the supply chain, including storage, transport, and distribution.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

In the United States, the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) provides guidance on the transport of pharmaceutical products. The CFR covers all aspects of the transport of pharmaceuticals, including labeling, packaging, and documentation.

European Union (EU) Regulations (EU GDP)

In the European Union (EU), the transport of pharmaceutical products is governed by the Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines. These guidelines cover all aspects of the supply chain, including transport, storage, and distribution. Additionally, the EU has established regulations governing the transport of dangerous goods, including pharmaceuticals.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) Regulations

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has established regulations governing the transport of dangerous goods, including pharmaceutical products. These regulations provide guidance on how to pack, mark, and label shipments of dangerous goods, including pharmaceuticals.

International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Regulations

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) regulations govern the transport of dangerous goods by sea, including pharmaceutical products. The regulations provide guidance on the safe transport of dangerous goods, including the packing, marking, and labeling of shipments.

Many other countries have additional regulations that are variations of those mentioned above. Understanding and complying with these regulations is essential to ensure the safe and efficient transport of pharmaceutical products.

Three Steps of Transporting Pharmaceuticals

Transporting pharmaceutical products involves several steps, including supply, transportation, and storage. In this section, we will outline these steps in more detail.

Supply

The first step in transporting pharmaceutical products is to ensure a reliable supply chain. This involves selecting suppliers and manufacturers who can provide high-quality products that meet the required specifications. The supply chain must also be designed to minimize the risk of product degradation or contamination during transport.

Transportation

The transportation step involves moving the pharmaceutical products from one location to another. This may involve several modes of transport, including air, sea, or land. It is essential to select the appropriate mode of transport that meets the requirements of the product being shipped. During transportation, the products must be properly packed, marked, and labeled to ensure they are transported safely and securely. Selecting the right logistics and freight forwarders with expertise in handling pharmaceutical products and providing the appropriate level of service for the mode of transport and route being used is crucial for ensuring safe and secure transportation while complying with regulations.

Storage

The final step in transporting pharmaceutical products is storage. Proper storage is crucial to maintain the quality, safety, and efficacy of the products. The storage conditions must meet the specific requirements of the product being transported, such as temperature control, humidity control, and protection from light. It is also essential to monitor the storage conditions to ensure they remain within the required range, which is based on the label claim for a particular drug. Storage temperatures are crucial even during transit, as products will often be stored temporarily at waypoints during their journeys.

Transporting pharmaceutical products involves several critical steps, each of which must be carefully planned and executed to ensure the products are transported safely and securely. In the next sections of this guide, we will provide more detailed information on the specific challenges and solutions involved in each step of the process.

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Further reading:
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Challenges when Shipping Medicine

Shipping pharmaceutical products comes with several challenges that can arise throughout the supply chain. These challenges can range from supply chain disruptions to ensuring the integrity of temperature-sensitive drugs during transport. In this section, we will discuss some of the key challenges that arise when shipping medicine.

Supply Chain Disruptions

The pharmaceutical industry is subject to a wide range of supply chain disruptions, including raw material shortages, manufacturing delays, and transportation issues. These disruptions can lead to delays, increased costs, and product shortages. To overcome these challenges, it is essential to have a robust supply chain management system in place that can quickly adapt to changes in the supply chain. Leveraging real-time visibility can also alert shippers to disruptions as they happen, enabling risk mitigation actions.

Shipping Temperature-Sensitive Drugs

Many pharmaceutical products, such as vaccines and biologics, are temperature-sensitive and require strict temperature control during transport. Failure to maintain the required temperature range can result in product degradation, reduced efficacy, or even patient harm. Ensuring proper temperature control during transport may require the use of specialized packaging and temperature monitoring solutions.

Regulatory Compliance

As discussed earlier in this guide, shipping pharmaceutical products is subject to a complex set of regulations. Failing to comply with these regulations can result in penalties, fines, and damage to the reputation of the company. Compliance requires extensive testing, documentation, training, and monitoring throughout the supply chain.

What are Good Practices for Transporting Pharmaceuticals?

Transporting pharmaceutical products requires adherence to good practices to ensure that the products are transported safely and securely. In this section, we will discuss some of the best practices for transporting pharmaceuticals.

Monitor In-Transit Temperatures

Temperature monitoring devices, or dataloggers, record temperatures at regular intervals during transportation. On arrival at the product&#;s destination, an indicator will tell receivers whether the shipment went out of its temperature range, and a detailed, regulatory compliant record can be retrieved from the device for use in quality product release and documentation. Temperature monitoring demonstrates that a pharmaceutical product is safe and efficacious, while also ensuring regulatory compliance.

Leverage Real-Time Visibility

Real-time visibility is becoming increasingly critical for ensuring that pharmaceutical products are transported safely and securely. These types of solutions use tracking devices and cloud-based dashboards that provide real-time data and insights into the location, condition, and security of the products during transport. By leveraging real-time visibility, shippers can quickly identify and address any issues that arise during transport, such as temperature excursions or logistics delays.

Document the Entire Process

Documenting the entire process of transporting pharmaceutical products is critical to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and to provide an audit trail to prove one is in control of the proper shipping process. This documentation should include records of the temperature conditions during transport, as well as any deviations from the required conditions. It should also include records of the packaging, labeling, and marking of the products during transport.

Use Specialized Packaging

Using specialized packaging is essential to ensure that temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products are transported safely and securely. This may include using insulated containers, thermal blankets, and phase-change materials to maintain the required temperature range during transport. It is also essential to ensure that the packaging is properly labeled and marked to indicate the temperature requirements and any handling instructions.

Train Personnel

Training personnel involved in transporting pharmaceutical products is critical to ensure that they understand the requirements and best practices for transport. This includes training on proper handling procedures, documentation requirements, and the use of temperature monitoring solutions. Regular training and refresher courses can help ensure that personnel remain up to date on the latest best practices and regulatory requirements.

By following these best practices, shippers can ensure that pharmaceutical products are transported safely and securely. At Sensitech, we provide comprehensive solutions to help our customers adhere to these best practices, including global real-time visibility solutions, passive temperature monitoring, and training and consulting services.

Final Thoughts

Transporting pharmaceutical products is a complex process that requires careful planning, specialized packaging, and compliant, accurate temperature monitoring. At Sensitech, we understand the challenges associated with the transport and cold chain monitoring of  pharmaceutical products and offer comprehensive solutions to help our customers ship with confidence and peace of mind.

Our temperature monitoring solutions help assure that temperature-sensitive drugs are transported safely and securely, while our supply chain visibility solutions provide real-time data and insights to help customers identify and mitigate potential disruptions in the supply chain. We also offer cost-effective training and consulting services to help customers navigate the complex regulatory landscape.

By partnering with Sensitech, life sciences companies can ensure that their pharmaceutical shipments comply with regulatory requirements and mitigate risk. We invite you to get in touch with our team to learn more about how we can help you optimize and grow your pharmaceutical transport operations. Contact us today to speak with one of our experts and start shipping with confidence.

Pharmaceutical Transport Best Practices for Shippers to ...

There&#;s no denying Big Pharma is big business, both here in the US and in the global economy. According to Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PRMA), the biopharmaceutical sector in the United States alone contributes $1.3 trillion to the world economy each year. That also translates into big bucks for the cold chain pharmaceutical transport industry&#;to the tune of $12.6 billion worldwide annually, according to Pharmaceutical Commerce.

As a shipper, the stakes are high. Temperature excursions due to incorrectly set refrigerated containers, unexpected delays, or other issues can result in damaged or destroyed product and millions of dollars in lost sales. Or worse yet, a compromised shipment could lead to fatal consequences for a patient.

With so much riding on the line, it&#;s time to take a closer look at pharmaceutical transport from a shipper&#;s perspective, what it is and the types of products involved. We&#;ll also examine some of the many challenges shippers of pharmaceutical products face, and offer a few best practices that will help ensure success.

Pharmaceutical Transport & Types of Pharma Shipments

It&#;s impossible to explore the topic of pharmaceutical transportation to any great depth without mentioning the importance of cold chain visibility. This is a realm where refrigeration and temperature control plays a crucial role in preserving the quality and stability of pharma products before, during, and after traveling through the supply chain. According to information from Shipwaves, 7 out of the top 10 pharmaceuticals in the U.S. require temperature-controlled shipping. Even the slightest temperature excursion, say 2 degrees, can ruin a product.

As such, quality must be maintained from the point of manufacture through last-mile delivery. This is where cold chain logistics plays such an important role in pharmaceutical transport of temperature-controlled products. ABCO Transportation does a nice job of presenting the steps involved:

  • Supply: The drugs, vaccines or pharmaceutical products are made and packaged at a plant.
  • Transportation: The medicines or pharma products are usually transported in a refrigerated or insulated truck. These trucks undergo routine inspections to make sure they are in satisfactory condition to keep inventory at the correct temperature.
  • Storage: Pharmaceutical products might go into cold storage before they are distributed. The refrigerated warehouse can act as a middle ground before pharma products reach their final destination.
  • Market: Generally speaking, the last step in the cold chain logistics process is delivery to the final destination where the pharmaceutical is sold or administered.

The types of pharma shipments generally fall into three ranges: Ambient, Refrigerated, and Cryogenic:  

  • Ambient (controlled room temperature, 20°C-25°C) &#; Pills, capsules, tablets, etc.
  • Refrigerated (2°C to 8°C) &#; Vaccines (Polio, Measles, Tetanus,  Hepatitis B, Smallpox, etc.; insulin, eye drops, etc.)
  • Cryogenic (Below 0°C to -150°C) &#; Tissue products, biosamples used in clinical trials, new cellular/gene therapies, certain COVID vaccines).

However, maintaining optimal temperature ranges is by no means the only concern for shippers. Many pharmaceutical products can react negatively in certain conditions involved with humidity, light, vibration and shocks.

Challenges in Pharmaceutical Transport

Pharmaceutical transport is among the most challenging of all supply chain activities, and it&#;s easy to understand why. The shipments are usually quite valuable and highly susceptible to excursions that would render them useless. Taking a closer look, some of the specific challenges are:

  • Pharmaceuticals have diverse and individualized  properties that must be taken into account with each shipment.
  • There are substantial risks to patient health from improperly transported pharmaceuticals.  
  • Numerous laws and regulations governing pharmaceutical products, from the UN, US Food and Drug Administration, and Drug Enforcement Agency, as well as state and local guidelines.
  • Need for strict regulation of temperature, humidity and in some cases exposure to light and vibration.
  • Higher shipping and insurance costs, given the specialized equipment and steps involved to preserve the integrity of shipments and the value of the cargo.
  • The lack of qualified drivers. Operators must be knowledgeable about the products as well as the rules and regulations.

Best Practices in Pharmaceutical Transport

Following these best practices will help ensure the safety and integrity of shipments, as well as prevent the loss of shipments that are spoiled or unusable.

  • Leverage end-to-end visibility solutions: Tracking each shipment through every stage of the pharmaceutical transport process should include real-time monitoring of not only temperature but also humidity, light, vibration, and shock events. Data logging plays an important part in not only monitoring the current shipment but also identifying trends and areas for improvement.
  • Know your products:This is the golden rule of pharmaceutical transport. Knowing which products are sensitive to variations in temperature, humidity, moisture, and shock events is critical.
  • Compliance is equally important: Not only is it a must to know the manufacturer-suggested best practices for handling and transporting each pharmaceutical product, you must also maintain strict compliance with all federal, state and local regulations.This includes FDA CFR 21 Part 11,  CGMP regulations, DEA regulations for controlled substances, and state-specific DOT hazardous material laws for transporting live organisms or chemicals.  
  • Consider all options for controlling temperatures: Using refrigerated or insulated trucks and trailers; individual cooling units, such as freezers; dry ice and refrigerant gel packs are a few of the more common options.
  • Give careful thought to packaging: Pharmaceutical transport often requires using specific packaging, such as corrugated shipping boxes, biodegradable air pillows, and insulated foam coolers, to name a few. And don&#;t forget the UN-compliant hazmat shipping labels and placards, when applicable.
  • Secure and monitor your cargo at all times: Leverage total visibility solutions and satellite tracking to ensure valuable pharma cargo remains safe and sound throughout the transportation journey.
  • Exercise due diligence when selecting partners: Do not trust your pharma shipments to just any 3PL or transportation service provider. The right partners will have all of the requisite licenses and permits needed to prepare and deliver pharmaceutical shipments.

The Tive Solution: Real-Time Condition Monitoring & Alerts

Tive has developed a proprietary sensor and software solution that enables shippers to monitor their pharmaceutical transport shipments in real-time. A multi-sensor tracker monitors the temperature, humidity, location, and shipment integrity, and sends the data to the cloud in real-time, where it can be accessed from the Tive software platform. Configurable real-time alerts notify the shipper as soon as a humidity or temperature excursion occurs. That&#;s how you can save a shipment from being a total loss. The reliability of Tive, along with the best practices described above, is what you need to succeed.  Ready to get started? Request a trial today.

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