Skycell transports life-saving pharma to Baghdad

SkyCell containers were used to transport 2.5 tons of pharmaceuticals from London to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in cooperation with the Iraqi Ministry of Health.  

The investigational new drug will be used to treat patients suffering from copper poisoning, a widespread problem in Iraq due to the burning of electronic waste and plastics.

“We are very proud to have contributed with our technology to this humanitarian effort as part of the ongoing struggle to rebuild this war-torn country”, said Richard Ettl, chief executive of SkyCell.

Transport of the pharma product, with a total value of $6.8m, completed a difficult logistical challenge, delivering the medication door-to-door to a hospital in Baghdad.

The experimental pharmaceutical requires a fully controlled cold chain solution with an unbroken temperature environment between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.

In addition to that, security requirements at Baghdad Airport demand all shipments to be X-rayed, which would result in the cold chain to be broken.

“Hence, SkyCell 1500C units became the containers-of-choice, as their innovative design and passive cooling system not only guarantee the required temperature range, but also allow X-ray-examination without breaking the official seals,” said Nico Ross, co-founder of SkyCell.