Case Study: Challenges in Shipping Temperature-Controlled Drug Substances Across the Globe

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries, with strict requirements for the safe and timely transportation of drugs. For a top global Pharma manufacturer based in Singapore, transporting almost 200 pallets of temperature-controlled drug substances to Amsterdam posed a significant challenge due to the high cost of active containers and the inability to secure large inventory of active containers for the movement. The stakes were high, as the timely delivery of these drug substances was critical to meeting production timelines.

To address these challenges, UPS Healthcare performed a full risk assessment and mitigation plans. We secured an airline charter option to Amsterdam and developed and implemented an end-to-end solution without active containers. The solution included thermal cover protection, reefer truck collection and delivery, temperature control storage at origin and destination, and Pharma carrier service. This allowed the customer to ship their products safely and efficiently without incurring the high costs of active containers.

UPS Healthcare’s solution provided assurance to the customer that their shipment was handled properly, with temperature protection at key touch points. The stable temperature protection ensured that the drug substances maintained their efficacy during transportation, meeting the strict regulatory requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. This successful implementation demonstrates how innovative solutions can overcome even the most challenging transportation obstacles.