TNT Express has launched a new specialised service “PharmaSafe” to safely transport largequantities of pharmaceutical products that are temperature-sensitive, such as vaccines and
insulin.The company explained that it designed the new temperature-controlled service to tackle the mainchallenges in the pharmaceutical supply chains including the lack of control and visibility as toomany parties are involved in the transportation (typically more than 20 for an air shipment).
“The majority of errors occur when shipments change hands. Risks include damages to packaging,customs clearance delays, and most importantly temperature deviations, which can incur major costsfor pharma companies and affect product efficacy. According to the World Health Organisation, everyfourth vaccine reaches its destination in a degraded state because of incorrect shipping,” TNTExpress specified.
PharmaSafe is expected to simplify and secure the flow of international shipments containinghigh-value, often life-saving, pharmaceutical products that require strict temperature control.This service offers customers an all-in-one transport solution with TNT managing the full supplychain, from packaging procurement to delivery. It uses its own aircraft, handling stations,collection and delivery networks, as well as in-house customs clearance experts.
PharmaSafe also uses one of the best passive containers currently available, the va-Q-tainer. Itis a high performance, cost-efficient and re-usable passive container. Its reliability is such thatinsurance companies have, in some instances, cut premiums by 50 % for pharmaceutical companies thatuse it. What is special about Va-Q-tainers is the capability of maintaining the required insidetemperature (frozen, refrigerated or controlled room temperature) for more than 120 hours withoutelectrical power supply or dry ice, even in extreme outside temperatures. TNT offers rental ofpre-conditioned, ready to “load and go” va-Q-tainers.
Another important feature of PharmaSafe is real time tracking of location and temperature fromend to end. Throughout the transportation, sensors measure the temperature of the shipment not onlyinside, but also outside the va-Q-tainer, even during flights. A GSM transponder that can be usedon TNT’s aircraft transmits the information in real time to TNT’s 24/7 PharmaSafe ManagementCentre. TNT Express can thus detect, predict and correct any temperature deviance without customershaving to act themselves. Immediately after delivery, the company sends customers a detailedshipment and temperature report.
To ensure an even better control over the supply chain, TNT Express offers PharmaSafe on theroutes the company operates using its own fleet. The service is available between Europe, theMiddle East, Asia and the United States, as well as within Europe.
“PharmaSafe is the market leading solution for preserving the efficacy, value and brand oftemperature sensitive pharmaceutical products during transport. We are pleased to offer this newservice to our growing number of pharmaceutical customers,” Roland Schuetze, TNT Express DirectorGlobal Industry Healthcare, explained.
TNT Express will present PharmaSafe tomorrow at the “Cool Chain Logistics Europe 2012” event inBasel, Switzerland. Other presentations will follow in Beijing, China, at the second annual “Biopharmaceutical Cold Chain 2012” on 28 February and in Singapore at the fifth annual “BioPharmaAsia Convention 2012” on 19 March this year.
PharmaSafe complements TNT Express’ existing specialised services to the healthcare industrywhich the company has served for more than two decades, ensuring that biological samples, medicine,surgical kits and other life saving devices get to their destination quickly and efficiently. Otherservices include Clinical Express, Hospital Express and Direct-to-Pharmacy.
Demand for temperature-controlled air transport of pharmaceutical products is expected to growby 12 % annually over the next five years due to stricter regulations on risk control andincreasing global demand for medicine, the company added.
