AstraZeneca has expanded its partnership with healthcare logistics provider Yusen Logistics for the global distribution of its products.

As a Strategic Global Freight Partner to AstraZeneca, Yusen Logistics handles product throughout the manufacturing process, from active ingredient and bulk materials to prescription drugs. The service expansion covers existing road business, air and sea volumes handled by Yusen Logistics.

Yusen Logistics’ solution is based around its European Pharma Superhighway road network, with movements managed by its Control Tower. This allows centralized planning of pan-European transport movements to maximize vehicle utilization and reduce costs, while ensuring product integrity at all times. The Control Tower also manages air movements via strategic gateways at Schiphol, Frankfurt, and Chicago, as well as ocean movements to and from Europe, supported by Yusen Logistics’ GDP licensed warehouses in Antwerp, Belgium and the United Kingdom, which deliver strategic storage and Customs Clearance capabilities.

The Pharma Superhighway currently carries around 250,000 pallets for AstraZeneca, all of which are real-time tracked with full temperature monitoring, from its manufacturing plants and third-party manufacturers to more than 100 destinations in Europe and 50 countries worldwide.

The two companies have been working in close partnership since 2007, when Yusen Logistics was appointed to work with AstraZeneca on the creation of a lean supply chain. Since that time, Yusen Logistics has consistently demonstrated year-on-year cost savings and service enhancements.

“This renewal underlines the continued evolution of our collaboration with AstraZeneca,” said Andy Fitt, Deputy MD, Yusen Logistics (UK). “As a long-standing partner we are continuing to proactively deliver service and quality enhancements on a local, regional and global basis.”

“We are delighted to continue and further develop our strategic partnership with Yusen Logistics,” said Julian Wann, Global Category Lead, Freight and Logistics at AZ, “working together to support AZ’s business objectives.”