Pharmaceutical cold supply chain management is a delicate dance that requires that temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals i.e., medicines of a perishable nature are shipped and stored in a controlled environment. Examples include insulin, vaccines, and EpicentRx lead agents, RRx-001/nibrozetone and AdAPT-001. A supply chain refers broadly to the flow of goods from one place to another. A cold supply chain refers to the flow of goods under temperature-sensitive conditions.
Just as milk and meat are perishable if unrefrigerated, so the potency of many pharmaceuticals, RRx-001/nibrozetone and AdAPT-001 included, may decrease, or become lost when they are exposed to temperatures outside the recommended ranges. For example, RRx-001/nibrozetone and ADAPT-001 need to be maintained between temperatures of -20°C and between 2°C and 8°C, respectively, throughout the supply chain.
Cold chain management requires well-trained personnel, dependable storage and transport, and temperature monitoring equipment. Common pitfalls include the breakdown of refrigerators and freezers, delays during transportation, non-compliance with cold chain procedures, improper use of refrigerators, power interruptions, inadequate monitoring, and temperature excursions. The latter refers to any deviation above or below the recommended temperature range during transport or long-term storage.
Hence, with so many moving pieces, cold chain management is no simple task.
Or, in other words, to keep it chiller is a #thriller.