pharma supply chains

Information fog hinders air cargo readiness for COVID vaccine

Refrigerated containers get lifted onto a light blue cargo plane for Korean Air.

The airfreight supply chain is nervous it won’t be ready to support a massive global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines that could begin within months.

A fast-track development process, the complexity of handling medicines with stricter temperature requirements and lack of clear shipping specifications from pharmaceutical companies make it difficult for logistics providers to plan for vaccine delivery under expedited conditions, freight transportation experts say.

Cold-storage infrastructure, special...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/information-fog-hinders-air-cargo-readiness-for-covid-vaccine-distribution

More airfreight providers put premium on pharma service

Temperature markings on a biopharma cold pack in warehouse operated by Kuehne+Nagel.

Several airlines, logistics companies and airports say they are ready to handle a COVID-19 vaccine once one is approved and shipped from factories. The pharmaceutical and life sciences business is more lucrative than general cargo because of its high value and security requirements, but it also requires specialized investments.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says many of its members have sophisticated facilities and the specialized knowledge to process sensitive shipments. The...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/more-airfreight-providers-put-premium-on-pharma-service

Lufthansa Cargo adds pharma storage facility in Munich

A forklift operator moves packages of blood at Lufthansa's cold storage facility in Chicago.

Lufthansa Airlines’ cargo division has opened a specialized storage section for temperature-sensitive medicines, biologic drugs and blood at its Munich Airport warehouse.

The new pharmaceutical hub can hold 96 pallets plus loose pieces in two temperature ranges (35-46 degrees F and 59-77 F) — with a freezer that can reach minus 64 F, Lufthansa Cargo said Thursday.

Ensuring pharmaceutical supplies maintain their quality during transport is a top priority for drug companies, hospitals and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/lufthansa

Matternet readies cargo drone for FAA tests

One of the country’s largest small drone manufacturers is ready to begin durability and reliability testing of one of its cargo delivery units with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this year.

Mountain View, California-based Matternet announced Tuesday that the testing with the agency brings the company’s M2 drone closer to receiving special type certification for unmanned aircraft systems.

Achieving this certification from the FAA will establish that Matternet’s M2 drone is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/matternet-readies-cargo-drone-for-faa-tests

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