The German states of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt have a long history of scientific research and innovation, and the life sciences industry is strong. During the pandemic, this was no different: pharma, biopharma, biotech and medtech companies from the two regions joined forces and with logistics partners, were focused on developing and delivering products and services to combat the virus and were able to launch them onto the market in a very short time frame.
Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are stored in specialised conditions in a fill-and-finish facility in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. IDT Biologika, a global contract manufacturer of vaccines and active ingredients based in Dessau, also in Saxony-Anhalt, partnered with AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson to fill millions of vials with their viral vector vaccines against COVID-19.

The two regions have far more to offer than just vaccines: in Dresden, Saxony, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals has a site producing influenza vaccines for the global market. Saxony’s medical technology is also steeped in tradition and accounts for about 70% of the life sciences activity in the region.

The city of Leipzig, located in Saxony and close to the state’s border with Saxony-Anhalt, is a hub for stakeholders in the biotechnology, life sciences and healthcare industries. Its BioCity Campus has at its heart the very active life sciences technology cluster, BioCity Leipzig, providing a dedicated space for life sciences companies to work and conduct research, with a particular focus on supporting start-ups and generating partnership opportunities.

Key topics

One of the key topics on FlyPharma Europe’s agenda this year is COVID-19 challenges and opportunities. Based on FlyPharma’s series of ‘COVID Challenges’ webinars, an expert panel will look back on the lessons learned from the pandemic and tackle future obstacles still in the path of the pharma supply chain.

The impact of the pandemic is far-reaching, but there are many other industry hot topics that will also be covered during the conference, including:

• Time- and temperature-sensitive cargo handling
• Disaster-proofing your supply chain
• How standards and certifications improve quality and reduce risk
• Digitalisation in pharma logistics
• Sustainability: latest initiatives
• Disruptive innovation
• Managing medicine shortages
• Temperature control responsibility
• Vaccine distribution.

Leipzig also offers the perfect biopharma logistics setting to cater for both pharma and cargo sectors. Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) is the fourth-largest air cargo handling centre in Europe and the second largest in Germany. Freight volumes at LEJ increased by 15% from approximately 1.3 to almost 1.6 million tonnes per year in 2021. Thanks to the fact that its subsidiary PortGround has a Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV) certification, the airport is the ideal logistics platform for handling temperature-sensitive and time-critical pharmaceutical consignments round the clock. A subsidiary of Mitteldeutsche Flughafen, which specialises in handling aircraft and freight, LEJ was a central handling point for medical goods in the battle against COVID-19, responsible for handling and loading vaccines.

The international CEIV classification confirms that sensitive pharmaceutical goods are reliably handled in accordance with international standards. Certification requires appropriate quality management and regular training for all those involved in the process, along with a suitable infrastructure. LEJ laid the foundations for this in 2017 with a new cold storage facility in its World Cargo Center: a refrigerated warehouse based at the airport, ensuring ideal conditions for storing medical products.

In addition, LEJ is DHL’s largest worldwide hub and it is the first regional air freight centre for Amazon Air in Europe. Located at the heart of Europe, the airport offers 24/7 operations to more than 80 cargo airlines, with routes encompassing more than 250 destinations around the globe, and has direct links to the trans-European road and rail networks.

All of this makes Leipzig an attractive and innovative life sciences and logistics hotspot. It’s also the perfect location for the next FlyPharma Conference Europe which, following a hiatus due to COVID-19, will return on 20-21 September 2022 as a live, in-person event. Tailored to an audience of forward-thinking pharma and cargo decision makers, this will be the ninth FlyPharma Conference to take place since its inaugural event in 2015 and the seventh based in Europe.

LEJ will support the conference as its headline sponsor, alongside Saxony Trade & Invest and Investment & Marketing Corporation Saxony-Anhalt, who will represent Leipzig’s two supporting regions as exhibitors.

The three companies also signed a cooperation agreement in May 2022 that will give a long-term boost to the Leipzig/Halle Airport region, or ‘airea – the Airport Region in Central Germany’, promoting it as a joint economic area across different federal states in Germany, as well as internationally, and making even more effective use of its potential to attract investors and new business.

A global audience of pharma logistics decision-makers will gather at FlyPharma Europe to discuss and debate the latest supply chain challenges and industry best practices. It’s important to find the right location to support these conversations, and FlyPharma Europe’s strategic decision to move to Leipzig, with its excellent life sciences resources and logistics strengths, reflects this.

Speakers

FlyPharma’s expert speakers will include:

• Götz Ahmelmann, CEO, Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG
• Maria Lahtinen, VP Operations, Faron Pharmaceuticals
• Dr Uwe Rettig, Vice President Supply Chain, IDT Biologika
• Mario Patyk, Head of Business Development Cargo/Logistics, Leipzig/Halle Airport
• Christian Schenk, Industry Lead Life Sciences, time:matters
• Francisco Rizzuto, Cargo Specialist Manager for EU, UK, Turkey, Ukraine, Israel, Russia & CIS, International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Attending FlyPharma Europe

Attending FlyPharma Europe will allow delegates to uncover the potential in their pharma supply chains. As well as widening their understanding of COVID-19’s current and future impact on pharma logistics, and gaining a greater appreciation of the life sciences and logistics strengths of Leipzig and surrounding regions, FlyPharma attendees will:

• Learn about the pharma supply chain’s hottest topics
• Meet pharma and cargo decision makers
• Technical sessions and interactive panel debates
• Complimentary invite to additional networking events
• Take part in an exclusive Leipzig/Halle Airport site tour.