Cardinal Health recently unveiled its new Advanced Therapy Innovation Center in La Vergne, Tennessee. This 8,000 square-foot facility, housed within a 172,000 square-foot Cardinal Health distribution center, is designed to address the unique logistical needs of cell and gene therapies, underscoring Cardinal Health’s leadership in advanced therapy commercialization.
Fran Gregory, VP of Emerging Therapies, stated, “This center reflects the significant growth and potential of cell and gene therapies. Our investment aims to benefit thousands of patients with rare diseases and limited treatment options. We’re eager to enhance our capabilities to deliver these critical treatments.”
The center is equipped to manage the specialized storage and shipping requirements of advanced therapies. Joel Wayment, VP/GM of 3PL Services and Packaging Solutions, explained, “Advanced therapies often need specific handling and temperature controls to maintain quality. Our new facility will bolster our support for manufacturers and ensure timely delivery of treatments.”
Key features of the Advanced Therapy Innovation Center include a deep-frozen storage suite with cryo- and ultra-low cold storage freezers for temperatures ranging from -40 to -196 degrees Celsius (-40 to -320 degrees Fahrenheit). The center also supports collaboration and process improvements for ordering, invoicing, and accounts receivable related to pharmaceutical products.
Starting in October, Advanced Therapy Solutions will introduce Advanced Therapy Connect, a unified ordering portal that allows customers to order all in-network products from a single platform. This new system aims to reduce administrative burdens and streamline the order-to-cash process. Additionally, market access strategy consulting services will be available to assist manufacturers in commercializing their advanced therapies.