Global distribution for clinical trials involves delivering the right products to multiple sites across different countries while maintaining consistent schedules and product quality. The distribution partner handling that movement can shape timelines, storage quality, and documentation. Choosing one is a decision worth making carefully and early.

What Does Global Distribution for Clinical Trials Include? 

Global distribution for clinical trials usually includes more than shipping. It can involve storage, packaging, labelling, temperature-controlled transport, import and export documentation, and tracking. Sponsors should confirm which of these services a provider handles directly and which it outsources, because the answer affects accountability.

Neunco describes its global distribution services as including warehousing, logistics partners, and established distribution channels across markets.

What questions should you ask?

Ensure that the provider can provide what you need by asking questions such as:

• Where can you distribute to?
• Do they have ambient, chilled or frozen storage?
• How do they manage temperature-controlled shipping? What do they do if there is an excursion?
• What documents do they provide and are they able to standardise?
• How do they enable monitoring of shipments from dispatch?
• How do they handle any shipments that have been held at customs?

You will need specific answers to these questions so that you can decide if they can explain how they manage excursions or held stock. 

One or more partners?

Some sponsors will use a single global partner to manage all their markets, while others will have a central partner manage their core markets and different partners manage specific countries. Each option has advantages and disadvantages.

Having one partner can simplify communication, documentation, and management, but you are putting all your eggs in one basket. Having multiple partners can give more flexibility and local knowledge but may require more co-ordination and clarity between partners. This depends on how many markets you are using, the products, and how much capacity you have in your team.

Storage capacity

If you would like to scale your study or have multiple products within the same supply chain, you will want to ensure that they can split their storage capacity. How do they separate the product for each study? How do they manage large volumes?

Neunco has an EU GDP-certified warehouse in the Netherlands and a licensed distribution center in New Jersey, USA. They have over 20,000 pallet positions with ambient, chilled, and frozen storage. Ensure these details apply to your products.

Look at Documentation and Tracking

Documentation is where global distribution often breaks down. Each market can require different paperwork, so a provider should be able to show how it keeps records consistent across shipments. Tracking matters for the same reason. Sites and sponsors need to know where an order stands before it is due.

Neunco says it gives clients access to an order-status tracking system. Sponsors should ask to see how tracking works for their specific markets and how updates are shared.

Plan the Relationship, Not Just the Contract

A distribution partner becomes part of the study team. Regular reviews of forecasts, shipment performance, and documentation help catch problems early. Agreeing on escalation routes and response times before a problem occurs saves time when one does.

The relationship also depends on clear accountability. Sponsors should know who is responsible for each step, from dispatch to delivery, and what happens when a step fails.

Choose a Partner That Fits the Study

Global distribution is a supply decision that affects every site. The right partner is the one that can match the study’s markets, storage needs, documentation requirements, and tracking expectations, and can show how it handles problems.