Webinar explores the recent transformation of the clinical trial supply chain and why agile working processes are key to success

On Monday 28 March 2022, PRISYM ID/Loftware hosted a webinar exploring the transformation of the clinical supply chain over the past two years. The discussion between Simon Jones, Loftware VP of Lifesciences Product Management, and Bob Bowdish, Loftware Senior Account Executive of Life Sciences, examined how the supply chain had risen to meet the many challenges facing the clinical trials sector, enabling more agile methods of working. 

Over the past two years, the clinical trials industry has faced several challenges. These include a push towards adaptive trials, the need to accelerate the trials process for vaccine candidates, sustain studies when patients were unable to visit sites due to the pandemic, and run efficient trials for costly and often complex set-ups that biologic therapies require. Simon Jones and Bob Bowdish explored how greater collaboration and innovation throughout the supply chain has facilitated a shift toward agile production, in the process overcoming historic bottlenecks in the production of clinical trial labels and booklets that are now being challenged by the industry.  

During the session, the audience was invited to participate in two polls, with the results revealing how agile working processes adopted during the pandemic were now being standardized and operationalized. The poll indicated that is the way the industry is moving, as nearly 40 percent of respondents reported that they were already making use of direct-to-patient supply and a further 38 percent are planning to.  

Perhaps as a result of Covid, is your organization currently using direct-to-patient supply models?
Yes, we are today 16.7%
Yes, we are relying on our service provider to achieve this 22.2%
Not yet, but we do expect we will 38.9%
No, not applicable to our organization 22.2%  

Simon recalled how before the pandemic, attempts to promote on-demand labeling and packaging, and therefore enable direct-to-patient supply, had been met with concerns about the availability of Qualified Persons to release the products for shipping. It was noted that a majority of those currently using direct-to-patient supply were reliant on service providers, potentially due to their ability to provide round-the-clock access to sufficient Qualified Persons. 

The audience was also asked about their usage of just-in-time and on-demand supply models, revealing that almost three-quarters of respondents were already using these methodologies to some extent or were planning to do so soon. 

Is your organization currently using just-in-time or on-demand supply?
Yes, it is our preferred model 10.5%
Yes, but only for select studies 36.8%
Not yet, but it is planned 26.3%
Not applicable to our organization 26.3%  

At the end of the session, Simon and Bob answered questions from the audience, including the ease of implementing labeling applications in a GXP environment.  

Want to find out more? 

Take a look at our report on 'Embracing Agile Production Methodologies in Clinical Trials', or read our recent blog to find out how clinical trial-specific labeling applications are supporting service partners in bringing more agility, flexibility, and value to sponsors.