Zuellig Pharma announced that it has joined the Poseidon integrated pharmaceutical ocean freight network as the principal distribution partner in Asia Pacific. It is also one of the latest members to be part of this network of more than 30 pharma companies and logistics providers which comprise the global Poseidon cold-chain reform project.

Formed in 2018, the Poseidon network is a best-in-class community of progressive pharmaceutical companies and logistics providers that has come together with the collective goal of reforming the pharmaceutical logistics process which, in addition to a poor performance record, is facing mounting cost pressures, growing regulatory oversight, and increasing concerns about the sustainability of current practices.

“We are excited to be joining this progressive community where we will be working in strategic partnership with like-minded organisations to deliver transformational change to pharmaceutical logistics,” said Giuseppe Leo, SVP, North Asia & Singapore Zuellig Pharma. “The emergence of Poseidon is a clear signal that new collaborative business models are required for the industry to increase efficiency, improve safety, lower costs and deliver greater sustainability.”

Other industry players who have also recently joined the network along with Zuellig Pharma include freight forwarding specialist, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics and Swiss based modum.io.AG, a fast-growing start-up, providing innovative digital supply chain solutions.

“Poseidon is thrilled to welcome these three leading companies into the network”, said Torben Weilmuenster, Global Head of Supply Chain Management at Merz Pharma and Chairman of the Poseidon Steering Committee. “We believe that the Poseidon model has major implications for the transportation of sensitive, high-value pharmaceuticals and we are excited that we continue to attract some of the sector’s most prominent players into the Poseidon ecosystem.

Alan Kennedy, Executive Director at Poseidon sums up the Poseidon opportunity: “To achieve the scale needed to drive real efficiency, promote standardisation and stimulate innovation, pharmaceutical companies need to come out of their silos and collaborate, both together and with the logistics industry. The Poseidon model provides a vehicle for life sciences businesses to leverage their collective expertise and assets and build a new life-sciences distribution paradigm.”