Demand and coping strategy of pharmaceuticals cold chain packaging

In 2023, the global pharmaceutical cold chain market size is 21.618 billion US dollars, and with the demand of the healthcare industry continues to grow, the continuous progress of bioscience and the requirements for safety and quality. The global pharmaceutical cold chain market demand will have more obvious growth. It is expected that by 2026, the market size will grow to $28.061 billion.

Global demand for medical drugs is increasing
Significant advances in healthcare have dramatically increased life expectancy and improved the quality of life for people around the world. But it has also led to an ageing population, which in turn has driven up demand for medicines worldwide, driving up healthcare costs. Especially in developed regions such as the European Union, this trend is more pronounced. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), healthcare spending in the EU region is expected to soar by 350% by 2050, far outstripping the 180% economic growth expected over the same period.

The difficulty of drug cold chain packaging
The Economic Media Group has concluded that "changes in the product mix and healthy environment are increasing the demand for temperature-controlled logistics and transportation services". Most current drugs need to be stored between 59 °F(15 °C) and 77 °F(25 °C), while vaccines and biotechnological products typically need to be stored in a positive temperature environment of 35.6 °F(2 °C) and 46.4 °F(8 °C), similar to some RNA vaccines. It needs to be stored at -4 °F (-20°C) or even -94 °F (-70 °C). The emphasis on biopharmaceutical innovation, especially in the areas of gene therapy and regenerative medicine, has greatly promoted the development of professional packaging solutions. Because such treatments use complex biologics, packaging must ensure the stability, sterility and temperature management of the product during transportation.

Cost effectiveness and efficiency of passive cold chain packaging
Active cold chain packaging is similar to refrigerators in that it maintains the product temperature through an energy-powered mechanical or electric system combined with thermostatic control. Subject to the instability of refrigeration equipment, poor infrastructure, rough roads and the efficiency of last kilometer distribution, passive cold chain packaging is more practical. Passive cold chain packaging is suitable for a wide range of temperature sensitive products and is cost-effective. Ideal for transporting single dose drugs, vaccines, and test samples, meeting the needs of medical research organizations. Insulating elements with PCM allow the container to remain at a constant temperature throughout transportation, meeting the precise needs of low temperature storage and strict temperature control, making it an excellent choice for most medicines.