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With millions of dollars and patients’ health at risk, the right packaging is essential when transporting temperature-sensitive drugs. A dependable solution can only be found with significant investment in research and development, explains Geraint Thomas of Laminar Medica
Pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organisations (CROs) are spending increasing amounts on the research and development of new drugs, with recent estimates as high as $800 million (€550 million) (1). While the potential returns clearly make this a worthwhile investment, the risk of failure carries significant consequences. With so much at stake, there is a vital need to protect the integrity of new drugs during trials and during transportation, particularly in cases where temperature-sensitive drugs are shipped over long distances and durations.
Maintaining an unbroken cold chain is essential in order to ensure that the temperature of the drug stays within an acceptable range for the entirety of the journey; failure to do so can result in reduced shelf-life for the pharmaceuticals or can even render them unusable. Despite these issues, many organisations continue their failure to invest in the development of adequate packaging solutions, leaving volunteers and patients at risk. |
