Cybersecurity is a concern for two-thirds of pharmaceutical C-suites (66%), according to a recent survey from Rackspace and Microsoft. The priority came ahead of supply chain/logistics management (55%) and sustainability (53%). See full data below: Data breaches in the pharma sector are costly, with the average cost of remediation topping $10 million in 2022, according…

The tensions facing the global supply chain have been building in the pharmaceutical industry since even before the pandemic began, said Apurva Saraf, CEO of privately-held Cosette Pharmaceuticals (South Plainfield, New Jersey), in a recent interview. About five years ago, China, a central producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), began shutting down tens of thousands…

COVID-19 vaccine development and rollout were crucial to gaining control of the pandemic. When the success of these efforts became dependent on the ability to maintain lower than typical temperatures during distribution, the importance of reliable and continuous cold chain solutions for mRNA-based formulations was thrust into the spotlight. Beyond pandemic mitigation measures and outside…

While the medical product supply chain has always been subject to vulnerabilities, those weaknesses were laid bare early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Drug and medical device supply chains have historically been susceptible to factors such as a lack of supplier redundancy, components, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or finished product manufacturers. But pandemic-driven sourcing and workplace…

The cell and gene therapy market continues to advance, thanks to its potential to treat cancers and other severe diseases. While the pandemic has had a negative impact on companies specializing in cell and gene therapies, it has also catalyzed interest in cold-chain logistics while highlighting the promise of new therapy types. Organizations interested in…

In the wake of COVID-19, telemedicine has become the only means for delivering patient care for many physician groups. As healthcare providers adapted to treating patients virtually, patients likewise adapted to disrupted routines. For those dependent on prescription medication to treat or manage a medical condition, “going to the pharmacy” was an errand replaced by…

FDA has issued guidance documents to help pharmaceutical stakeholders identify illegitimate products and remove them from the supply chain. Two of the documents are final, while another two are draft guidance.  “Ensuring the quality of prescription drugs and safeguarding the integrity of pharmaceutical distribution are crucial roles the FDA plays in protecting the health of…

For any vaccine, some degree of waste is expected. The problem is inspiring supply-chain companies to explore new technologies that can address a longstanding struggle. “Before COVID-19, we often saw waste of about 8–10%,” said Ranjeet Banerjee, CEO of Cold Chain Technologies, which provides insulated packaging for drugs and biologics. A 2019 World Health Organization report citing…

Global supply chains have arguably seen more disruption in the past year than they have seen in decades. Pharmaceutical supply chains were especially vulnerable in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a rethink of supply chain management for the industry. Another wrinkle is a recent executive order from President Biden, which prompted a…

Americans will start receiving Johnson & Johnson‘s COVID-19 vaccine within the next 24 to 48 hours, J&J CEO Alex Gorsky told NBC’s Today this morning. FDA issued an EUA for J&J’s Ad26.COV2-S vaccine on Feb. 27, a day after an advisory panel unanimously recommended that the agency authorize the vaccine for adults 18 and over.…