High-demand, hard to access — how to source specialty drugs for global trials

But the broader challenge for clinical trial sponsors hasn’t gone away. With more complex protocols and a growing pipeline of precision therapies, the pressure has shifted towards specialty drugs — high-value, tightly regulated medicines like Keytruda and Opdivo, where access remains a persistent hurdle.

Why specialty drugs are a different kind of challenge

Specialty drugs — including immune-oncology agents, gene therapies and biologics — often come with strict temperature controls, short shelf lives, and complex handling requirements. Global supply is frequently limited, especially when these therapies are already approved for commercial use and prioritized for patients. 

For sponsors, this can lead to:

• Longer lead times
• Difficulty securing product in certain regions
• Complex documentation for cross-border movement
• Heightened risk of protocol deviation if timelines slip

In short: sourcing specialty comparators isn’t just about availability — it’s about precision, planning and proven access.

Sourcing strategy: Plan early and partner smart

To stay ahead, clinical trials need a proactive sourcing strategy that matches the complexity of the therapies involved. That means:

 

• Early engagement — The earlier you begin conversations with a sourcing partner, the more time you have to clear regulatory, supply and logistics hurdles — especially for high value biologics or cold-chain drugs.
• Speciality drug access — Work with partners who have established relationships with manufacturers and wholesalers for hard-to-source treatments like Keytruda, Opdivo, and similar products used in oncology and rare disease trials.
• End-to-end handling — Specialty drug supply chains often require temperature monitoring, repackaging, regulatory expertise, and real-time visibility to ensure product integrity from source to site.

How Cencora delivers specialty drug access at scale

At Cencora, we’ve built a global sourcing network that spans 30+ counties — giving trial sponsors access to specialty comparators that are often out of reach elsewhere.

Whether it’s oncology drugs like Keytruda and Opdivo, or other high-demand biologics, our teams provide:

• Direct-from-manufacturer and trusted wholesale sourcing.
• Compliance with international import / export regulations.
• Temperature-controlled storage and transport.
• Stock holding and repackaging services.
• End-to-end visibility through real-time shipment tracking.

“With specialty drugs, it’s not just about finding supply — it’s about managing every detail from sourcing to delivery,” says Christen McGowan, Director, Global Comparator Sourcing, Cencora. “That’s where our global footprint and proven expertise make all the difference.

Christen added: “High value therapies bring new possibilities to patients — but they also raise the stakes for clinical trial supply. Sponsors can’t afford last-minute scrambles or sourcing failures.

“With Cencora, you get a partner that understands the nuances of specialty drug sourcing and can support you from strategy to site — even in the most complex environments.”