Your Quarterly Dose of Cold Chain & Pharma News - Q4's Highlights

The final quarter of 2015 saw a number of high level collaboration announcements in the pharma spac e, including the highly anticipated potential Pfizer and Allergan merger. Key advancements were spotted with spacecraft intelligence being pinpointed as one of the latest technologies to propel the cold chain market after it was used to support the ebola vaccine candidates in Sierra Leone.

Here Cold Chain IQ presents the industry’s highlights for this quarter.

The Worldwide Cold Chain Kickstart Felt for Middle Eastern and North African Cold Chains

According to a recent report, cold chain logistic services for pharmaceuticals are an upcoming trend within the Middle East and North Africa. This is said to have been kickstarted by the bolstered healthcare infrastructure and boosts from government initiatives focusing on the pharmaceuticals industry. Also, positive economic and demographic elements are persuading companies to devote resources to developing cold chain solutions.

China’s Cold Chain Due For Rapid Expansion After Pressure From Demand

A recent article titled China Struggles To Keep Up With Cold Chain Demand , (1) noted that in comparison to import traffic, the levels of exports in China exert the strongest pressure on its cold chain infrastructure at airports. This is thought to be due to cold room volumes on the export side of terminals being smaller than those on the import side. Others have called for enhanced investment in China’s railway to support the cold chain and the increasing demand for fresh food within the country. (2)

The past few months saw some key developments within China’s cold chain. At the end of October reports emerged on a cold chain logistics center reaching completion in Panzhihua, with claims that investment is estimated to rest at 110 million Yuan. (3) Additionally, Envirotainer recently opened up a cold station in Shanghai, China to support the growing cold chain sector of the pharma industry.

Spacecraft Intelligence Supports Ebola Vaccine Cold Chain

Reports have recently emerged that spacecraft technology is one of the latest breakthroughs to advance the cold chain market.

A passive vaccine storage device, which utilises insulation methods similar to those which guard spacecrafts from extreme temperatures, assisted with conserving Ebola vaccine candidates during transit for trials in Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Seafreight Cargo Weight – New Regulations

Cold Chain IQ columnist Mark Edwards discussed new seafreight cargo regulations coming into force next year. Following concerns raised by the shipping industry regarding the mis-declaration of the declared gross mass of packed containers, the regulations are changing and tightening. Many people are unaware of or unprepared for these changes so Mark Edwards used this article provide a ground-up explanation of this topic.

The regulations come under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea which is more commonly known as SOLAS. They were adopted in November 2014 and will be in force from 1st July 2016.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Collaborations Pfizer and Allergan to combine

This quarter, reports circulated around the industry about Pfizer and Allergan to combine with a transaction expected to close at the second half of 2016. The move is thought to add more than 100 combined mid – to late stage programmes in development.

Eli Lilly and Merck’s Immuno-oncology Collaboration

In November the two firms extended their collaboration to evaluate the fusion of Lilly’s ALIMTA and Merck’s KEYTRUDA. The combination therapy is said to be in Phase III and is focused on first line nonsquamous non small cell lung cancer.

Bristol-Myers Squibb completes acquisition of Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc

The trade contains complete rights to Cardioxyl’s leading asset – CXL- 1427 – which is in phase 2 of clinical development positioned as treatment for acute decompensated heart failure.

Public Budgets According to the Social Security Finance Bill 2016 in France, the French Government declared it Looks To Make 50% Of Healthcare Savings Through Drug Price Cuts.

R&D Gut-brain biotech firm launches with $44m series A financing

Biotechnology firm, Kallyope Inc, which is focussed on harnessing the potential of what is referred to as the gut-brain axis has launched with a Series A financing of $44 million.

Gene Therapy Pipeline holds over 900 Products in Active Development,

GBI Research revealed this quarter that the substantial gene therapy pipeline is lined with around 900 products in active development across all stages. Areas of focus include oncology, infectious diseases, genetic disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.

Approvals Rare enzyme-replacement therapy lands FDA approval

Earlier this month, Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc’s Kanuma received FDA approval. The pharmaceutical is said to be the debut treatment for a rare disease known as lysomal acid lipase deficiency. This condition can lead to liver and cardiovascular disease and other complications.

GSK receives European marketing authorisation for severe Asthma treatment in 31 countries

GSK announced that it had received European Commission marketing authorisation for their drug Nucala as an add on treatment intended for severe refractory eosinophilic asthma in adult patient.

Drugs Recalls Products that appeared on the FDA drug recall list this quarter included:

- Sanofi US’s Auvi-Q with the reason attributed as potential inaccurate dosage delivery.

- Medline Industries Inc’s over the counter Acetaminophen tablets with the reason noted being that 500 mg tablets incorrectly labeled as 325 mg tablets.

Have Your Say Rate this feature and give us your feedback in the comments section below

Your Quarterly Dose of Cold Chain & Pharma News - Q4's Highlights

Follow Us

Latest Webinars

How innovations in supply chain technology enable agility to move beyond visibility

Solve the labeling artwork puzzle

Digitizing your cold chain operations to improve patient outcomes

Recommended

Seven steps to ensure you are GDP-inspection ready

Bringing IDMP to life for patients: progress in 2019/2020

Three reasons to digitally transform Regulatory Affairs

A guideline for EUFMD implementation

Brexit risk to European medicine supply 'revised down'

New EU clinical trial guidelines lays down the principles for the two-step relea...

Record year forecasted for pharmaceutical air shipments

Pharma Logistics Compliance: 2018 Report

GDP compliance alerts sounded

2018 Trends to disrupt pharma supply chains

EU launches new GMP guidelines

EU transportation loophole could compromise drug quality

FIND CONTENT BY TYPE

Pharma Logistics COMMUNITY

ADVERTISE WITH US

JOIN THE Pharma Logistics COMMUNITY

Your Quarterly Dose of Cold Chain & Pharma News - Q4's Highlights

Follow Us

Subscribe to our Free Newsletter

Latest Webinars

Recommended

FIND CONTENT BY TYPE

Pharma Logistics COMMUNITY

ADVERTISE WITH US

JOIN THE Pharma Logistics COMMUNITY