Supporting Access Through Supply Chain Excellence on World Sickle Cell Day
Each year on June 19, the global community observes World Sickle Cell Day to raise awareness of one of the world’s most common inherited blood disorders. Sickle cell disease affects millions of people worldwide, with the highest prevalence in regions historically underrepresented in advanced medical care. The condition causes red blood cells to take on a rigid, sickle shape, blocking blood flow and leading to episodes of severe pain, anemia, and long-term damage to organs and tissues. For many, the consequences are lifelong.
But the future is changing.
Today, innovative cell-based therapies are reshaping what is possible for patients living with sickle cell disease. These advanced therapeutics offer the potential for long-term relief, and in some cases, functional cures. Their success, however, depends on more than scientific discovery. These therapies are highly individualized and complex, requiring a precise orchestration of time, temperature, identity, and compliance across the global supply chain. Every step, from the initial collection of a patient’s cells, to manufacturing, storage, and delivery back to the clinic, must be performed with absolute consistency. A single deviation can compromise a product that may represent a patient’s hope of lasting improvement.
This requires more than transportation. It requires a fully integrated supply chain management platform that can handle the demands of patient-specific products with uncompromising precision. From validated cryogenic packaging to continuous condition monitoring and proactive intervention, Cryoport Systems brings together the people, processes, and infrastructure needed to protect both product integrity and patient outcomes. We are proud to support the supply chain management of two advanced therapies aimed at improving the lives of patients with sickle cell disease.
Behind Every Shipment is a Life in Transition
Every day, we manage shipments that contain a patient’s own genetically modified cells from collection sites to manufacturing facilities and back to treatment centers, sometimes across the country, other times across the world. These moves are complex and time- and temperature-sensitive. They rely on multi-leg routing plans, international customs clearance, continuous monitoring and visibility into package conditions, and rigorous Chain of Compliance® protocols. Each unit of material is irreplaceable and often represents a once-in-a-lifetime treatment opportunity for the patient it belongs to.
For patients with sickle cell disease, many of whom have spent years in and out of hospitals, the promise of a single infusion that could significantly reduce or eliminate painful episodes is life-altering. But to reach that moment, logistics must perform flawlessly. It’s why our teams work tirelessly with our clients to qualify shipping lanes, perform comprehensive shipping risk assessments, qualify shipping systems and packaging performance, and prepare for every possible contingency.
Building Equity Into Access
Sickle cell disease disproportionately affects people in regions and communities that have faced barriers to access. Bringing advanced therapies to these patients means solving for more than just science, it requires solving for infrastructure, policy, and equity. Cryoport Systems plays a critical role in supporting patient access.
With facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, we help shorten transit times while navigating local regulations, trade requirements, and import/export controls. Our depot network and harmonized global quality systems ensure that patients receive their therapies within required timelines, regardless of geography. And our Chain of Compliance creates a comprehensive record of product custody, condition, and identity in support of regulatory readiness and manufacturing confidence around the world.
Progress Requires Precision
Innovation in sickle cell disease is accelerating. Novel approaches are in development that will introduce new vectors, new storage requirements, and new distribution models. At Cryoport Systems, we continuously invest in the infrastructure, validation tools, and operational processes that will be needed to support the next generation of treatments.
This includes ongoing expansion of our global network, new methods for cryopreservation, cutting-edge shipping systems and innovative packaging, and deeper integration of data and analytics across our logistics ecosystem. Our teams work alongside biopharma partners, research institutions, contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), and healthcare providers to anticipate challenges and develop customized solutions for every phase of the therapy lifecycle, from preclinical studies into clinical trials and through commercial launch.
On World Sickle Cell Day, We Reaffirm Our Commitment
For the millions of individuals living with sickle cell disease, the path to treatment is evolving, but it remains deeply dependent on trust. Trust that their cells will be handled with care. Trust that their therapies will arrive when and where they’re needed. Trust that every step in the supply chain is built around their safety and success.
