Logistics has the Power to Cure
Matt Silverberg, CEO, Associated Couriers
In the complex world of life science logistics, the delivery of diagnostics and therapies to hospitals and treatment centers is often overlooked until a critical error occurs. In my role with Associated Couriers, I get a front-row seat to the pivotal role logistics plays in ensuring patients receive timely and life-saving treatments. After a decade in the industry, I've witnessed firsthand the profound impact that delivery delays or failures can have on patients.
What has become clear to me: anyone seeking to make a difference in the lives of patients must increase their urgency in securing a reliable logistics partner.
The following is what is building this urgency for healthcare and life science leaders:
1. The Unseen Impact of Failed Deliveries:
Delays in the delivery of diagnostics or therapies can have immense psychological and practical repercussions. Picture a patient, eagerly arriving at a hospital for a vital diagnostic or therapeutic session, only to face hours of waiting and ultimately needing to reschedule due to logistical mishaps. The thought alone should evoke in you profound anger and frustration. Logistics in the life science industry is not a mere commodity; it is an integral part of decentralized care, impacting patient outcomes directly.
2. The Rising Significance of Life Science Logistics:
The surge in registered clinical trials worldwide, a staggering 521% increase from 2008 to 2024, underscores the evolving landscape of pharmaceutical development. Companies are investing at an unprecedented rate in research and development to bring novel therapies from Phase I to Phase IV. The need for a reliable logistics partner becomes paramount in clinical trials: any failure in delivery can render all the efforts to develop these therapies futile.
3. Challenges in Industry Data Tracking:
One hurdle that highlights the importance of logistics in therapy development is the historical lack of data tracking in the cost of delayed or failed deliveries. Consider a cell therapy valued at over $100,000; a delayed or failed shipment not only incurs financial costs for the pharmaceutical company but can also mean added stress for the patient, requiring a repeat of procedures. Robust industry data on these costs could emphasize the significance of reliable logistics partnerships during therapy development.
4. Specialization Gap in Life Science Logistics:
With a 90% failure rate in clinical trials, the increasing number of ongoing trials suggests a surge in new therapies coming to market. However, the growth of logistics companies specializing in life science has not scaled accordingly. Unlike standard last-mile deliveries, transporting life-critical shipments demands highly specialized services. Meeting compliance standards, expertise in packaging, real-time monitoring, TSA certification, and a global network are essential prerequisites for the growing market.
5. The Role of Specialized Logistics Services:
To be a reliable partner for life-critical therapy deliveries, a logistics company must meet stringent criteria. This includes robust compliance practices, expertise in packaging validation, temperature excursion monitoring, and real-time GPS tracking. Additionally, possessing TSA certification, strong airline relationships, next-flight-out services, charter options, onboard courier capabilities, and a dedicated customer success team are all necessary elements of specialized logistics services. A patient-centric culture and decades of experience in handling critical shipments add to the necessary qualifications.
As the life science industry witnesses unprecedented growth in therapeutic options, the role of logistics cannot be understated. By addressing the challenges in data tracking and ensuring specialized services, logistics partners like Associated Couriers and Life Couriers emerge as indispensable allies in the journey from development to patient care.