Adaptimmune Therapeutics, a developer of T-cell therapies to treat cancer, and Cryoport, Inc., a temperature-controlled logistics solutions company dedicated to the life sciences industry, have entered a three-year agreement to ensure safe and fully monitored transport of Adaptimmune’s cell therapies.

Adaptimmune aims to optimize manufacturing and supply operations and reduce “vein-to-vein” time for patients in clinical trials and ahead of commercialization. This agreement with Cryoport will contribute to this, alongside other solutions including investment in the latest systems and technology, digitization of the supply chain information, and improved communications with patients and healthcare professionals.

Cryoport’s SmartPak II Condition Monitoring System provides near real-time information while tracking location, temperature, orientation, humidity, and shock, as well as other factors to enable the transport of temperature sensitive cell therapies. This information is automatically collected and retained by Cryoport’s cloud based Cryoportal Logistics Management Platform, which gives companies the ability to intervene and make corrections while a shipment is in transit.

“Rapidly and safely delivering a patient’s cells back to the hospital after the cells have been armed with our TCRs and frozen for shipment is an essential capability for us,” said John Lunger, Adaptimmune’s chief patient supply officer. “Control and monitoring are critical because a simple temperature variation can jeopardize these cells and, ultimately, the product we supply to patients. With Cryoport’s technology and expertise, we will be able to track the conditions, location, and handling of these cells – a key capability as we prepare to ship commercially in 2022.”

“Adaptimmune has a robust pipeline of therapies and a strong in-house manufacturing platform which makes us very pleased to be expanding and extending our relationship with them under this new, exclusive logistics agreement. Cryoport’s solution for Adaptimmune is comprehensive and relies upon our world class technologies including the SmartPak II Condition Monitoring System and the Cryoportal Logistics Management Platform. Today’s joint announcement underscores the strong relationship between our companies and highlights the growing importance of temperature-controlled logistics solutions in advancing the life sciences at large,” said Jerrell Shelton, Cryoport CEO.