Hellmann ships new pharmaceutical medicine just in time for launch

Hellmann closely supported the launch of a new pharmaceutical drug into the USA market for a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing treatments for dermatological conditions. This direct move was extremely time-sensitive and required a unique logistics solution to cater to the client’s needs, which Hellmann delivered.

Starting Situation

In early 2022, the pharmaceutical company was in the final stage for launching a new prescription drug into the market. Once the FDA authorization was confirmed, a prompt launch of the new medication for use in the USA market was planned. The client needed a company that could be a strong partner and work closely together to design a unique and sophisticated dock-to-dock solution for their pharmaceutical launch: Shipping 22 pallets under Pre-Launch Activities Importation Requests (PLAIR) and another 388 pallets for inventory from the production site in England to several locations in the Mid-West and along the East Coast of the United States. Furthermore, the pharmaceuticals required temperature-controlled transport as well as other safeguards. The shipment was extremely time-sensitive with a tight production and launch schedule, and the success of the launch very much depended on the prompt arrival of the products at their destinations.

»The transportation requirements and validations for this specific drug have been some of the most stringent that we committed to follow. Temperature and time restraints were crucial to the success of the product launch. With intensive collaboration, planning, oversight and precise communication with our customer and international teams, we made sure that we considered every single detail along the way.«

Chris DiBernardi, Director Business Development, Hellmann Healthcare Logistics

Solution

Hellmann Healthcare Logistics created a tailor-made validated solution to meet all specific requirements. Delivery appointments could only be made a few days in advance, requiring precise execution and coordination with the airline. The products were picked up in Northern England and taken to a Hellmann airfreight facility near London, where they were staged and loaded into temperature-controlled containers before being flown to Chicago. Timing was crucial, as there was no storage on either end and strict appointments to follow, especially because the team had to return the containers to the leasing company within 7 days. From Chicago, the shipment was split and prepared for 6-hour inland trips to the Midwest and East Coast. Certain flights had to be considered to avoid pickup delays, requiring perfect planning between the client and Hellmann Airfreight teams in the UK and US.  

An escort was hired to supervise the valuable cargo at all times. Throughout the journey, Hellmann used SmartAir! 5G tracking loggers to ensure the integrity of the product. These loggers allowed the teams and the client to track the logistics process end-to-end in real-time, ensuring the products were where they should be and within the required temperature range of 15-20°C (~59-68°F). With the strong partnership and seamless communication between the pharmaceutical customer and Hellmann Airfreight and Healthcare Logistics teams on both sides of the Atlantic, the delivery was completed ahead of the deadline, and the pharmaceuticals were successfully distributed to three different locations in the USA, just in time for the official launch.

Contact

Chris DiBernardi

Chris DiBernardi

Director Business Development Hellmann Healthcare Logistics