Kuehne + Nagel chosen to provide cold chain services to AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca has selected global logistics company Kuehne + Nagel to handle part of its exports of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products from Europe to the rest of the world.

Under the new agreement, Kuehne + Nagel will supply a complete solution for the transportation by air and sea of products indicated for therapeutic categories including oncology and anaesthetics, as well as active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Kuehne + Nagel's range of air- and seafreight solutions will meet the regulatory requirements for exports from AstraZeneca production sites in the UK, Sweden, France, Italy and Germany to further production sites and regional distribution centres in the Middle East, Japan, Africa and the US. AstraZeneca will benefit from full visibility of shipments via Kuehne + Nagel's online system, KN Login.

The products, which are in both emulsion and solid form, must be maintained within a stipulated temperature range. To achieve this, Kuehne + Nagel has developed robust, cutting-edge cold chain packaging solutions that will deliver product integrity and compliance in line with the MHRA's Good Distribution Practice.

"Kuehne + Nagel offers extensive global experience in the pharmaceutical sector," said Peter Ulber, chief executive of Kuehne + Nagel, North West Europe. "We are able to meet the challenges of this particular industry through innovation and investment in market-specific solutions, such as door-to-door cold chain solutions and packaging, while also offering economies of scale due to our global reach."