Supply Chain

Welcome to Pharma Pulse, a Pharmaceutical Commerce podcast where we bring you the latest insights shaping patient access, supply chain/logistics, data & tech, and healthcare innovation. I’m your host, and let’s get into today’s headlines.

As the FDA ends its phased exemption period for most trading partners, Two Labs’ Michael Rowe warns that DSCSA compliance is entering a far more complex era—one shaped by real-time traceability, digital record requirements, and a transition to a 12-digit NDC.

The entrepreneur urges the Trump administration to eliminate costly FDA generic drug fees, part of a broader push to scale domestic production, address shortages, and challenge PBM-driven pricing models.

The pharma distribution giant is scaling its third-party logistics network across Europe and the United States, adding cryogenic capacity, new facilities, and enhanced cold chain services, to support rising demand for specialty pharmaceuticals and global market access.

In today’s Pharma Pulse, a structured exercise program is proven to manage persistent long COVID symptoms, while Regeneron commits $150 million upfront to Tessera for a gene writing therapy targeting AATD, and Strive Pharmacy invests in a massive Arizona facility to boost national personalized medicine capacity.

The new 350,000 square-foot Mesa hub is expected to expand the compounding pharmacy’s national fulfillment and advanced compounding capabilities.

In today’s Pharma Pulse, a US-UK trade agreement mandates that the UK’s NICE agency raises its QALY threshold, increasing access to innovative drugs and much more.

The agreement includes exemptions for UK-produced drugs and medical devices from Section 232 tariffs, but mandates a significant change to the UK's NICE value appraisal framework.

The pharmaceutical giant will be nearly doubling biologics production in Frederick and build a new clinical supply facility in Gaithersburg, projects that will create thousands of jobs, enhance US supply chain resilience, and advance its growing rare disease portfolio.

As part of its multi-billion-dollar investment, the company will be creating a unified, end-to-end manufacturing campus spanning biologics, gene therapy, solid dosage, and packaging operations.

In today’s Pharma Pulse, we dissect the resource drain of new pilot programs, the growing concerns over global supply chain dependency, and the simple tech intervention improving glycemic control.

A US-China Economic and Security Review Commission report highlights China’s tightening grip on APIs, biomanufacturing, and R&D services, raising alarms about supply chain vulnerabilities, data transparency gaps, and the urgent need for US policy action.

In the fourth part of her Pharma Commerce video interview, Christy Christian, senior industry principal with Kinaxis, shares how reducing inefficiencies cuts waste, preserves profitability, and ultimately lowers consumer prices while increasing production capacity to meet rising demand.

A review of COVID-19 vaccine access inequities, emerging cardioprotective data for semaglutide, and Experity’s integration with Amazon Pharmacy highlights the shifting dynamics of patient access, clinical innovation, and digital-first care delivery in today’s Pharma Pulse.

A new partnership integrates Amazon Pharmacy into Experity’s urgent care platform, enabling in-clinic prescription ordering, faster fulfillment, and improved treatment adherence through streamlined digital workflows.

The nationally licensed pharmacy network now supports Ethereum, Solana, and XRP across all retail locations, marking a major step toward faster, more transparent payments—and laying the groundwork for a blockchain-based prescription drug payment system.

The pharma giant’s new 10,000-square-foot Carlsbad plant strengthens its US manufacturing network and supports its overarching $50 billion investment plan committed to operations.

In the first part of her Pharma Commerce video interview, Christy Christian, senior industry principal with Kinaxis, describes how manufacturers face mounting challenges managing long, complex supply chains, including limited inventory buffers, tight cash flow constraints, and constant policy changes.

The deal—with the potential to be valued at up to $725 million—positions ThermoSafe for accelerated growth and innovation in temperature-controlled packaging solutions, with Arsenal aiming to expand global reach and technological capabilities.

The addition of Starjemza reinforces Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs' effort to expand access to affordable specialty medicines through its transparent cost-plus pricing model, while also enhancing patient support via a new partnership with Medchat.ai.

Cencora's investment includes new automated centers in Ohio and California and a major cold chain expansion in Alabama to enhance capacity, efficiency, and supply chain resilience.

Eli Lilly invests $3 billion in a new European manufacturing facility, enhancing production capacity and creating jobs while ensuring faster access to innovative medicines.

The investment is aimed at boosting oral medicine manufacturing capacity.

At LogiPharma USA, industry leaders from Tive, McKesson, and the broader healthcare logistics community discussed the sector’s transition from passive monitoring to real-time control, the growing influence of advanced therapies, and the importance of diversity and innovation in shaping the future of pharma supply chains.

The move adds new tension to US-Canada trade relations under the USMCA and raises questions about pending pharmaceutical import policies.