Wyeth Pumps Up The Pipeline
Keen to boost the efficiency of its global clinical trials, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals took a calculated risk by outsourcing end-to-end responsibility for shipments of its in-trial drugs. The move paid off. Wyeth is saving 5 percent of its previous logistics costs, has simplified customs clearance, and has far better visibility of the “chain of custody.”
Like others in its industry, Wyeth Pharmaceu- ticals is challenged to “ ll the pipeline” with new drugs. The company develops drugs for women’s health care, infectious disease, gastrointestinal health, central nervous system, in ammation, hemophilia, oncology, and vaccines, and its ability to do so quickly and ef ciently has major implica- tions for the wellbeing of individuals everywhere.
Those challenges also have obvious rami cations for the shareholders of parent company Wyeth— one of the world’s largest research-driven phar- maceutical and health care products companies. Most “pharmas” today are under terri c pressure to discover and develop new drugs faster and more frequently as patents on existing drugs expire and generics push into their markets. And, oh, by the way, they also have to contain costs across the orga- nization—drug research activities included.
Long story short: Recognizing the size of the challenges, Wyeth found a way to streamline its new global drug discovery supply chain by outsourc- ing a substantial amount of its logistics function to DHL. With better visibility and cost control, the company says it’s gained a signi cant edge in what has become a white-knuckle market. Wyeth now has the tools and the insights needed to be able to prod its in-trial drugs through customs controls and speed them through every supply chain stage.
Source: Logistics Management
