On the Road: Key Insights from Three Healthcare Conferences

In September, we attended three major events that focused on clinical trials, cold chain logistics, and site operations. Each provided valuable insights into the latest trends, as well as innovations and challenges in their respective fields. Below, we put together key takeaways from our time on the road, and highlighted the common themes amongst the events too.

DPHARM: The Push Toward Decentralized Trials and Improved Access

DPHARM, a conference centered around clinical innovation, brought together leading sponsors and patient-centered organizations. One of the prevailing topics was decentralization, which is reshaping how clinical trials are conducted.

A particular statistic that stood out was shared by a CEO in the clinical trials space, who noted that there has been a 40 percent increase in patient travel over the past six years. With that type of data in mind, trial designers are increasingly looking at mobile units and direct-to-patient methods to enhance trial participation, especially in underserved regions.

Additionally, a biopharmaceutical executive noted that 131 million people live in vulnerable areas, underscoring the need for greater patient access to trials. On average, patients are willing to travel around 20 miles for a trial, but in many cases, the distance to trial sites exceeds that by orders of magnitude. This gap, it was said, presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the industry.

Also, the need for real-time data tracking was another major takeaway. Sponsors want to monitor their trials with acute precision, particularly as more trials move to decentralized formats. In addition, reducing waste is becoming a pressing priority—30-40 percent of clinical trial kitting materials are currently discarded, pointing to significant inefficiencies in trial logistics that are ripe for improvement.

LogiPharma: Cold Chain Complexities and the Sustainability Challenge

LogiPharma gave us a closer look at the complexities of cold chain logistics. While primarily commercial-focused, the event featured all the major players in cold chain transport.

Throughout the conference, cold chain challenges were underscored by a statistic that’s deeply concerning: 30 percent of pharmaceuticals are scrapped due to cold chain failures, which is a sharp contrast to the 2 percent damage rate for global shipping. To us, this reveals how critical it is to ensure proper temperature control at every stage of pharmaceutical transport.

Among all the discussion topics, one of the most interesting was the 15-minute logging and data refresh standard. For most cold chain products, this level of tracking is considered real-time, but for high-stakes pharmaceuticals with shorter shelf lives, even this window may not be enough. As a result, innovations that further narrow the data refresh window will likely be pivotal in improving cold chain reliability.

There was also a considerable number of conversations around sustainability, although the understanding of climate issues varied. While many attendees discussed sustainability initiatives, there seemed to be a meaningful gap in deep climate knowledge among industry professionals. As the cold chain industry pushes toward greener solutions, such as reducing waste and energy consumption, more education around sustainability will be essential.

Global Site Solutions Summit: Strengthening Site Relationships and Operations

The Global Site Solutions Summit put clinical sites in the spotlight. These sites, which are essential to the clinical trial process, often face operational challenges and feel overlooked by sponsors.

The conference provided a platform for sites to discuss challenges and share experiences, particularly regarding logistical pain points. One of the most notable topics of interest was the elimination of dry ice. While frozen shipments aren’t the majority of clinical materials, they cause the most headaches for site staff.

At Artyc, we’re addressing this challenge with our 5L portable fridge, the Medstow 5L, which features real-time tracking—a capability that was emphasized as essential at LogiPharma.

Common Themes Across Conferences: Decentralization, Sustainability, and Real-Time Data

Despite the different focuses of each event, there were common threads throughout. First, decentralization is a growing force in clinical trials, with efforts being made to increase patient access and ease the burden of participation.

Second, sustainability remains top-of-mind, but the industry still has work to do in terms of both understanding and implementing truly climate-conscious solutions.

Finally, the importance of real-time data tracking cannot be overstated—whether in clinical trials or cold chain logistics, having immediate access to accurate data is critical.

Conclusion

Of all the conference highlights, our favorite was seeing how Artyc’s mission aligns with the cold chain industry’s evolving priorities. From our commitment to decentralized clinical trials and integrating real-time tracking through IoT technology, to leading the shift away from dry ice with reusable shippers, our approach mirrors the direction that the healthcare and logistics sectors are heading.

Also, the conversations we had affirmed that moving away from dry ice is a pressing issue for many clinical and commercial companies. It’s a challenge that we’re already tackling, with the same focus on innovation and improvement that drives everything we do.

We're excited to keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible in cold chain shipping, and ensuring that temperature-sensitive goods are transported with the utmost care and minimal environmental impact.