According to Rare Diseases International, 30 million Americans suffer from one of 7,000 known rare diseases. That’s 1 in every 11 people in the United States. Most rare diseases are genetic and cause chronic, successive, and life-threatening health issues. But specialty drugs and the specialty distributors delivering them provide hope for patients with rare diseases.
Specialty drugs can positively impact the life of someone with a rare disease. It’s often the only thing that eases their condition. Despite the high demand, accessing specialty drugs and finding the right specialty distributor for your patients, your practice, or your pharmacy isn’t always easy. It’s a complex, ever-evolving landscape.
Let’s look at some of the challenges with specialty drugs and how specialty distributors are navigating those challenges and helping patients receive the treatment they need.
Why Specialty Drugs Are Difficult to Access
- The clinical trial and regulatory process for some specialty drugs can be lengthy and extensive, which results in delays in patient access to these medications.
- Specialty drugs are often more complex to manufacture and require precise handling, which makes them more expensive and more challenging to access than non-specialty drugs. Despite the challenges, specialty distributors are committed to helping patients get the treatment they need.
- Some specialty drugs may only be available at specific hospitals or clinics. That means some drugs are in short supply, which can cause delays in treatment. It can be more difficult for patients to access the medication they need, and patients could be required to travel long distances to receive treatment. That’s why specialty distributors must provide the healthcare logistics necessary for the smooth delivery of critical and potentially life-saving specialty drugs.
- Specialty drugs typically require special handling or storage conditions, such as intravenous infusion and precise dosage requirements. Specialty distributors provide temperature-controlled logistics to maintain the integrity of every specialty drug delivery.
At American Expediting, our team consists of healthcare logistics experts, certified and accredited carriers with extensive training, and the required equipment to oversee diverse shipping needs for specialty drugs across North America.
Specialty Distributors Help Patients Receive Treatment
Specialty drugs provide hope for patients. They also impact providers, pharmacies, and the life sciences brands that develop them.
Specialty drugs are usually only prescribed by specialists, like oncologists or rheumatologists. Specialists can provide faster treatment to patients by diagnosing and managing their conditions more efficiently through direct access. Because biologics, many of which come from living organisms, can be tailored to target specific genetic mutations, they offer the capability to do so. This helps to ensure that the treatment is more effective.
As specialty distributors, American Expediting goes the extra mile to provide patients with essential healthcare logistics services. These services are crucial to a patient’s success, and we take pride in offering them efficiently and effectively.
The Role of American Expediting as Specialty Distributors
American Expediting aims to address the unique challenges of shipping and storing specialty drugs, ensuring patients receive the treatments they require safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively.
Here are some ways we are helping patients with rare diseases receive the specialty drugs they need.
- Our advanced monitoring and tracking systems keep drugs at the correct temperatures during shipping. These systems help us identify and solve issues, ensuring that your drugs arrive in perfect condition.
- We take extra measures to protect your specialty drugs during transportation. We ensure they receive the utmost care and attention to detail so you and your patients can get the treatment without worry.
- American Expediting has over 40 years of experience in shipping regulations and compliance. We commit to compliance with the established standards of Good Storage Practice (GSP) and Good Distribution Practice (GDP). Our policies and protocols focus entirely on minimizing risk and optimizing your supply chain.
- Ensuring continuous replenishment of specialty drugs and preventing shortages relies on effective inventory management. We use advanced inventory management systems to keep track of our supplies and ensure we always have enough on hand.
- We work closely with pharmacies on the delivery of specialty drugs so patients get the treatment they need.
What Sets American Expediting Apart?
- Our highly trained healthcare logistics experts ensure complete accountability and supply chain integrity throughout the distribution process.
- Our bio-storage repositories comply with the most rigorous regulatory requirements, enhance operational efficiency, and help you reduce distribution costs.
- With an integrated cold chain logistics network, we provide a complete chain of custody and audit trail for every delivery.
- Our customer portal provides complete transparency so you can continuously monitor real-time temperature, humidity, and site security.
- We offer milestone monitoring, a service designed for customers with complex requirements that necessitate an extra level of tracking and management.
- We carry the qualifications and certifications needed to meet regulatory standards. That includes ISO 9001, IAC, HIPAA, and more – and operate according to the full security compliance requirements of TSA and DHS following IACSSP 6A (Indirect Air Carrier Standard Security Program).
Working with trusted specialty distributors can guarantee that patients receive the best care possible. And healthcare providers and pharmacists receive peace of mind and expertise that reflects positively on their business.
At American Expediting, we have over 40 years of experience managing the most complex pharmaceutical and therapeutic logistics, storage, and transport requirements. We understand the mission-critical nature of your specialty drug supply chain. We’re committed to ensuring product integrity and to helping you serve your patients safely and securely.
Contact us to learn more about our service offerings and how we can help your patients with rare diseases. And follow us on LinkedIn for the latest happenings at American Expediting and in the world of transportation and logistics.
