ISS is Tackling Supply Chain Challenges for Clinical Trials

COVID-19 has caused major disruption to clinical trials, particularly when it comes to supply chains (i.e., getting the right drug to the right patient at the right time).

Innovative Supply Solutions LLC (ISS) has developed a cloud-based system that enables pharma companies to optimally plan and manage production and supply chains for drugs in clinical trials. Without ISS, clinical supply management is an inexact science, handled by Excel, which adds weeks or months to timelines and results in as much as 50% or more of clinical supplies being thrown in the trash at the end of a trial.

The ISS system generates a highly accurate simulation of a trial, which can be rapidly adjusted to accommodate significant changes – for instance, a pandemic that suddenly closes all clinical trial sites. This gives the sponsor the ability to modify their production plans, clinical protocols and logistics to ensure patients don’t miss critical doses, while minimizing waste of material, saving lives, time and potentially millions of dollars.

ISS is stepping up to help a variety of pharmaceutical and biotech companies navigate the chaos caused by COVID-19. On the one hand, the company is offering free access to its platform and services for initial studies of vaccines and therapies targeted to COVID-19. Additionally, ISS is reaching out to a broader audience with a targeted approach that can enable sponsors of studies to quickly adapt any of their studies to minimize disruption from the next wave of the pandemic that is expected to come later this year.