The new facility will provide temperature-controlled solutions and distribution needs, and a variety of new services, including local sourcing of comparator drugs and secondary packaging and labeling.
The facility will also be licensed to support commercial 3PL distribution for specialty products and features an expanded storage area. It will be staffed by full-time pharmacists.
According to World Courier President John Butler, the decision to add a new Moscow facility is a direct result of customers’ evolving and growing demand for high-quality solutions in that market.
“Moscow has become an increasingly popular destination for pharmaceutical manufacturers seeking to conduct clinical trials outside the United States and Western Europe,” Butler told Outsourcing-Pharma.com.
“The market boasts a highly-urbanized healthcare system, trained medical personnel, lower costs and high patient recruitment and retention rates."
According to the company, of the 123 new drug therapies approved in 2015 by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, 50 were studied in Russia. Additionally, the number of clinical trials in Russia is predicted to double by 2020.
Butler said the company is seeing demand across the globe increase as pharmaceutical manufacturers become “more savvy with global commercialization plans.”
In addition to Russia, World Courier has expanded in Israel and Australia, and AmerisourceBergen is working with Profarma, a specialty distributor in Brazil.
“What we’re finding commonly in the these markets is a supportive environment for pharmaceutical research & development as well as patients that desire innovative technology and economies that are driving advances in healthcare,” said Butler.