Cell and Gene Transport Logistics: Making Fragile Journeys Dependable
Cell and gene therapies are transforming modern medicine. What once offered little hope now has the power to restore health. These advanced treatments are highly personalised and sensitive to time, temperature, and handling. For them to reach their full potential, every step from production and storage to clinical trial sites and hospitals must be executed with absolute precision.
This is where specialised transport plays a decisive role. It safeguards the integrity of each therapy and guarantees that innovation does not stay confined to the lab. By connecting scientists, healthcare providers, and patients through reliable temperature-controlled routes, cell and gene transport turns groundbreaking science into real-world care.
Why are these shipments different?
Most medicines travel safely under standard cold chain conditions. But cell and gene therapies don’t. Some require storage below -150 degrees Celsius from the very beginning of their journey. Others are only stable for a few hours. It’s essential to recognise that even a brief delay, a slight temperature variation, or a handling error can render the entire shipment unusable. That is why these therapies require transport solutions that are faster, more precise, and more closely monitored than conventional healthcare logistics.
Working with the limits of time and temperature
Cell and gene transport logistics leave little room for error. Each therapy must remain stable and viable from the moment it leaves the laboratory until it reaches the patient. We ship some therapies at controlled ambient or refrigerated temperatures, while others move in cryogenic conditions. In these colder environments, cells slow their metabolism, which helps them survive longer, even if a few do not.
The cold is not an obstacle. It is what protects the life within each therapy until it can do its work. We design our packaging to keep each treatment at the optimal temperature throughout its journey. Some require controlled ambient or refrigerated conditions, while others require ultra-low or cryogenic environments to protect cell integrity and ensure viability.
Protecting Therapies in Transit
Monitoring systems track every aspect of the journey—from temperature and security to location—ensuring nothing goes unnoticed and that data remains secure. We plan routes against the clock and prioritise every urgent delivery. We do not present these measures as features. They are simply part of how we work. They are the safeguards that maintain the viability of therapies until they reach the point of care. Every shipment carries more than just its physical contents. For autologous therapies, it represents one patient and one treatment.
Maintaining the Chain of Trust
Teams collect cells from each patient and return them to that same person, transformed into a potential cure. That is why they maintain a rigorous chain of custody. They document every shipment from collection to delivery to ensure precision and accountability at every stage. The goal is simple. Every therapy must reach the person it was made for, precisely as intended.
From Logistics to Lifelines
That means carefully following each step. From cell collection to delivery. Ensuring that identity, timing, and temperature all stay aligned.
Nothing can be misplaced. Nothing delayed. Nothing altered. Because behind every shipment, there is a life depending on it.
Borders, paperwork and the risk of delay
Crossing borders places pressure on any shipment, but with cell and gene therapies, the risks are greater. Moving therapies internationally involves navigating customs, completing paperwork, and adhering to national regulations. These processes are not barriers; they are safeguards to protect patients and to ensure every shipment complies with standards. The key is proper preparation. When everything is managed correctly from the beginning, the therapy advances smoothly and the patient waits less.
To ensure a successful release on the receiving side, documentation must be complete, consistent, and compliant with all regulatory requirements of the destination country. Import permits, product licences, temperature records, and, when necessary, patient or trial documentation must accompany the shipment. Any missing or inaccurate element could delay the clearance process.
Every stage of the journey must be traceable and supported by reliable data that demonstrates adherence to Good Distribution Practice. Before a shipment can proceed, all records are checked to confirm that everything has been done correctly. This care protects the quality of the therapy and helps it reach the patient without delays or risks.
A global network with a specialist focus
As part of DHL Health Logistics, CRYOPDP combines global reach with a deep understanding of healthcare logistics. Our presence in more than 150 countries connects research centres, clinical sites, and treatment facilities through a single, coordinated network. What defines our approach is precision. Each shipment is handled with the accuracy and control required for therapies that cannot be delayed or substituted.
This global framework allows us to oversee cell and gene therapies, clinical trial materials, and biological samples within a unified operational and regulatory system. By linking local expertise with international coordination, we help ensure that advanced treatments are accessible to patients wherever they are.
Innovation that strengthens reliability
Healthcare logistics are constantly evolving with the introduction of new treatments and regulations. What is most important is keeping stability and clear thinking. The packaging maintains the correct temperature. The tracking system continuously displays the location of everything. If something begins to go wrong, someone notices and intervenes. That is how it works. It is not about systems or slogans. It is about people paying attention so every delivery arrives as it should.
From laboratory to patient care
Each shipment embodies years of research and the hope of patients. CRYOPDP unites these two worlds through experience, care, and coordination. Every step is meticulously managed to preserve the material’s integrity, comply with regulations, and ensure prompt delivery.
This is straightforward. Trials can proceed. Patients can continue receiving their treatments. Behind every shipment, there is a single purpose.
To move science without losing what makes it valuable.