Biological Shipping Blog, Cold Chain Transport Blog | temperature controlled logistics

What Do You Know About Your Dry Vapor Shipper and its Potential Impact on your Critical Materials?

Mon, Nov 19, 2018

Dry vapor shipping dewars used for transport of critical temperature-controlled biomaterials and lifesaving materials, such CAR-T and other regenerative medicines, can be purchased and used by anyone.

These dewars are qualified and validated by their manufacturers to generally have a 10+ day hold time. However, this cannot be assumed to always be the case—as they can be variable in their actual performance, both initially and over time. In fact, not only is there variability in initial hold time performance, but in-transit events invisible to the human eye can have dramatic impacts on the hold time of the dewar during its next use and beyond.

Additionally, dewars do “age” and have reduced hold times as they get older. Most organizations using these dewars do very little or nothing at all to track, test and document past or future potential performance.

Tags: Cold Chain, Clinical Trials Logistics, temperature controlled logistics, cryogenic shipping, cold chain shipping, alternative to dry ice shipping, deep frozen shipping, Frozen Shipping, Cold Chain Logistics, Global Cold Chain Logistics, frozen shipping solution, stem cell frozen shipping, cellular therapies, regenerative therapies, transportation, biologics

The Critical Need for the End to End Data Flows for Regenerative Therapies

Thu, Nov 08, 2018

The global commercial approval of the first CAR-T therapies (Kymriah® and Yescarta®) has intensified the need for the clear and uninterrupted flow of data from before the patient is ever treated to the mining of data that takes place years after the patient has received their therapy. This requires collaboration and integration between several different software systems that are involved in the process.

Beyond Logistics – What’s Needed for Successful Support of Clinical Trials and Commercialization in Regenerative Medicine?

Wed, Oct 31, 2018

The tedious process of vendor selection for Clinical Trials, Commercialization Planning and Launch in Regenerative Medicine can be daunting, let alone having to think about the Support necessary for success before you even know who to go to for what.

Identifying which services and support are needed, formulating a supplier short list to engage with for each, sorting through the overload of information, understanding who provides what and where there is overlap are just a few considerations – not to mention the Requirements, Budgeting and Contracting process.

Once the due diligence is done and contracts are in place, you hold your breath, have more than a few sleepless nights and wonder - did you and the team make the right decisions?

Transportation Safety: Same and Different Across Countries

Wed, Oct 03, 2018

With today’s research collaboration, supply chain distribution, clinical and commercial programs spanning across continents, it is essential for pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies to safely ship cryogenic and temperature-controlled bio-specimen and therapies across countries or oceans, so they can leverage the entire value chain to conduct pioneering research or treat illnesses.

The Emergence of Chain of Compliance™

Mon, Sep 24, 2018

In December 2016 the US Congress enacted the 21st Century Cures Act, which required the FDA to facilitate an efficient development program for, and expedite the review of, new medicines meeting the definition of a regenerative advanced therapy (RAT) (Section 3033). The RAT designation in the legislation is now referred to as the Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) designation.

Now that the first two of these therapies have been approved, the supply chain of patient- and donor-derived regenerative medicine products will fall under increasing pressure for standardization and increased regulatory requirements. Much of the early regulatory focus has been on material processing with four guidance documents issued in a regulatory framework established by the FDA on November 16, 2017, its focus is on recovery, isolation, and delivery. Cryoport believes that enhanced traceability within the temperature-controlled and cold chain logistics distribution will also be subjected to additional regulatory requirements due to the fragile aspect of the drug product and the disproportionate risk of improper cold chain management on the viability of the therapies.

Are You Securing “Smooth” Compliant Movement of Your Biological Materials?

Wed, Sep 12, 2018

Moving time and temperature sensitive biological materials “smoothly” across the globe, from A to B, is and requires more than “just” acquiring compliant packaging material and booking a carrier… While this may seem logic, how are you ensuring visibility to the Chain of Custody, Chain of Condition and more importantly Chain of Compliance™ for your shipment?

Compliance Considerations Driving Temperature-Controlled Logistics

Tue, Sep 04, 2018

When considering your temperature-controlled logistics needs, it is important to think about the compliance consideration steps in the drug development and delivery process being more than just getting biologic material from point A to point B. You need to keep in mind that your distribution needs are just one more integrated step in your business process flow. In addition, there are a large number of regulations and standards to consider regarding quality and document control, equipment validation, facilities, and personnel—just to name a few.

Cryoport’s Temperature Controlled Logistics Solutions Supporting Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) Clinical Development

Mon, Aug 27, 2018

Cryoport’s unique range of Cold Chain Logistics Solutions have been developed and implemented to support the most important and advanced drugs currently in the clinical development portfolios of many of the leading global biopharmaceutical companies and those that have been commercially approved – Novartis’ KYMRIAH™ and Gilead/Kite’s YESCARTA™. With the criticality of ensuring the highest quality, service and transparency to support the clinical and commercial aspects of each drug, Cryoport provides solutions that provide Chain of Custody, Condition, Identify and most important Chain of Compliance™ ensuring “zero defect” for the transportation and delivery of each lifesaving drug. Cryoport has worked closely with all our client partners to ensure maximum success in a complex environment. The dramatic increase of compounds being investigated in Regenerative Medicine over the last few years has required increased attention to supply chain requirements than ever before. Cryoport is proud to be partnered with the leading biopharmaceutical companies exploring the most advanced medical cures in the world.

Scientific Conclusions Are All About the Data--Choosing a Logistics Provider For Biomaterial Transport Should Be As Well

Mon, Aug 20, 2018

In our previous blog we discussed key considerations in the transport of critical biomaterials such as cell and gene therapies, in vitro fertilization shipments or large laboratory bio-sample moves. There we focused on challenges of customs processing, regional or country regulatory requirements and carrier choice and their associated processes. These are all part of critical risk assessment and mitigation strategies. Just as the development of the ground-breaking therapies are driven by good scientific methodologies, so should the choice temperature-controlled logistics providers be driven by unbiased data. Whether it be a standard integrator, or a specialty courier, being investigated for utilization data should drive the decision making process.

Considerations for Successful Biomaterial Transport into Challenging Countries

Thu, Aug 02, 2018

Successful research, development, manufacturing and commercialization in regenerative medicine is an epic challenge, with potentially a more epic reward of saving lives.

Almost equally challenging is working with partners domestically and around the globe to transport temperature controlled materials back and forth to keep progress moving forward.

It seems straightforward enough - Call your carrier of choice, provide addresses, contact names, documentation about the biomaterials and when you want it to arrive - simple, right?

Cryoport's Temperature Controlled Logistics Blog