Supply Chain

Healthcare groups met in late July 2020 to discuss the state of the US pharmaceutical supply chain and the impact of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised several questions about the safety of the pharmaceutical materials supply chain. Is onshoring the answer?

Pharmaceutical Technology spoke with Matthew Woodcock, director of LLamasoft, a supply chain analytics company that assists companies in their decision-making and supply chain challenges, about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the pharmaceutical supply chain.

COVID-19 has brought to light the issues of European manufacturing capabilities, leading industry to question whether it is now time to reinvest in domestic medicines supply.

Efforts are already underway to harmonize standards and regulatory approaches for testing of raw and ancillary materials, but continuous improvement is required.

EU regulators are requesting more effective action be taken to tackle serious impurities in APIs and finished products.

For pharmaceutical manufacturers and their contract partners, blockchain and the Internet of Things promise to enable return on investment, not only by preventing counterfeiting and verifying returns but by enabling real-time condition monitoring and automating supply contracts.

The 120-day pilot program was set up to help reduce the availability of unapproved opioids illegally offered for sale online.

The future will bring changes for temperature-controlled container rental companies.

Previous investments set a foundation for later efficiency improvements.

The VIA Capsule from Cytiva is a liquid nitrogen-free cryogenic shipment system designed to transport cell therapies.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for the pharmaceutical industry to strengthen its supply chain.

A network-based supply chain approach has the potential to improve resilience and performance.

US manufacturers focus on preparing capacity while vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 are being developed and tested.

Evonik opened a new facility for GMP manufacturing of bioresorbable polymers and excipients for pharmaceutical and medical applications in Birmingham, AL.

Quartic.ai and Bright Path Laboratories have agreed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered continuous manufacturing platform for APIs and other small-molecule drugs using Bright Path Labs’ continuous bioreactor and the Quartic.ai smart manufacturing technology.

CMO Evonik begins capacity expansion of APIs and intermediates at its sites in Dossenheim and Hanau Germany to increase EU supply security for drug products.

Wavelength Pharmaceuticals expanded production of APIs for certain pharmaceutical products needed to manage respiratory critical care patients in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Civica Rx plans redundant manufacturing capacity to relieve and prevent shortages of generic, sterile injectable drugs.

The agency has been tasked with coordinating efforts to mitigate shortages of medicines within Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More sustainable and functional packaging protects temperature-sensitive drugs.

As COVID-19 rapidly spreads, the bio/pharma industry is committing significant efforts to fast track development of therapies.

Pharmaceutical Technology spoke with Jens Andersson, purchasing director at Cambrex Karlskoga, about the best way to ensure the security of the bio/pharmaceutical materials supply chain.

Risk assessments, audits, and good communication between sponsor and supplier are key elements of supplier oversight.

Civica Rx plans redundant manufacturing capacity to relieve and prevent shortages of generic, sterile injectable drugs.

Data and analytics company GlobalData announced that there is a strain on the global biopharma industry’s supply chain due to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19.

Launched in 2018, the Poseidon network works to bring together pharmaceutical providers to reform the pharmaceutical logistics process.

An evaluation by USP indicates bovine heparin is a potential alternative to porcine heparin.

The company has said that all three of its operating sites in China started back up on Feb. 12 and that it is closely monitoring the outbreak.

Researching excipient grades and sources, as well as screening suppliers and materials, form the basis of programs to mitigate risk.