How planning and partnership prevent risk in CGT logistics

A cryogenic dry shipper containing a patient’s autologous cells was en route from a European collection site to a U.S. manufacturing facility.

The route was fully validated — but at the final transit point, customs authorities requested additional documentation before release. With the shipper sealed at ≤ –150 °C, every hour mattered.

“In CGT, you can’t improvise when a shipment is already on the move,” explains Kelly Frend, Senior Manager, Personalized Supply Chain. “You have to know exactly what you’ll do if a delay occurs — long before it happens.”

Within minutes, continuous temperature monitoring flagged that the shipment hadn’t cleared as planned. The local World Courier team — already GDP-trained and pre-approved as part of the controlled network — escalated through the 24/7 operations center.

A replacement LN₂ shipper was prepared nearby and customer service colleagues coordinated directly with customs to expedite clearance.

Because the lane and contingency plan were validated in advance, the swap could be authorized and completed before any risk to the therapy.

“Our technology shows when a shipment is trending outside normal parameters,” says Eric Schier, Senior Manager, Personalized Supply Chain. “That early visibility gives us time to act fast and keep conditions completely stable.”

This wasn’t luck, it was vigorous preparation. The route had been assessed, the partner trained, and the escalation process rehearsed.

World Courier’s monitoring, data, and decision-making framework ensured a seamless recovery — long before the delay could impact the therapy.

“Every shipment has a plan B,” says Kelly. “We map the risks, validate the lane and brief everyone involved — from the driver to the client — so if something changes, everyone knows exactly what to do.”