Andrea holds a diploma in biochemistry from the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, and a PhD from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin, Germany. She has 12 years of research experience in gene technology, pharmacology, and preclinical development, both in academic research and with biotechnology companies. She is a passionate author, lecturer, and trainer for pharmacology, regulations, and clinical trial logistics. She has been an active member of ISPE since 2009 and is also a member of the Association of German Biotechnology Companies (VBU).
What Drew You to a Career in the Pharmaceutical Field?
In my final school years, I learned about molecular biology and gene technology. I was fascinated by the potential to use these technologies to develop therapies to cure diseases. I decided to study biochemistry, with the goal of developing gene-based therapies.
I describe my career as moving from gene to last mile, having worked across all phases of drug development—from target identification to clinical development—and now I’m helping deliver cures worldwide. While working on my diploma and PhD, I studied diseases like AIDS and cancer. I transitioned to pharmacology and joined a biotechnology company to test drug candidates in preclinical development, followed by gene therapy when the field was very new. Today, I’m involved in clinical and pharmaceutical logistics. Some of the drug candidates I helped develop in the very early stages are now being shipped to patients in clinical trials.
What Do You Do in Your Current Role?
At Cencora, I’m responsible for the personalized supply chain for both CGT logistics and logistics for decentralized clinical trials where clinical trial participants receive supplies for the trial at home.
Radiopharmaceutical therapies, which is a growing pipeline of personalized medicine, also need specialized logistics and expertise. It can be challenging because we’re shipping highly regulated products to patients’ homes. Many of these products have special requirements, such as short shelf lives and strict temperature requirements—they must reach the right patient within a specific time frame or risk losing effectiveness. The shipping is very complex and requires specialized expertise.
For instance, we’ve found that some companies require their CGTs to avoid airport X-ray machines, fearing the radiation will cause damage. However, the amount of radiation on a plane is actually higher than the amount of radiation in the X-ray machine. To address this, I’ve been setting up partnerships with universities and X-ray manufacturers to conduct research and testing that demonstrate that nothing happens to the therapy when it goes through X-ray screening. We use these findings to educate our clients.
What Do You Enjoy Most about Your Work?
It is satisfying to use the experience from so many years in pharmaceutical development to develop solutions for actual problems. We work on global projects with global distribution, and it is a great thing to work with so many people from so many cultures. I often start my day with talking to people in Singapore, then India, Russia, and other European countries. Later I’ll talk to people in America and Latin America. We work on a global level, but everybody has the same goal: to develop and deliver cures to patients.
What Advice Would You Give Emerging Leaders?
Have goals that motivate you—ones you’re really burning for—and use them to make career choices. Ask yourself, “Will this job help me reach my goal?” It’s much easier to make decisions when you know where you want to go. It’s also important to reflect on your strengths and try to find a job where you can apply them.
What Do You Enjoy about Being a Member of Your COP?
Everyone comes from a similar work environment, but each company tackles challenges differently. Being a part of the CoP gives you a safe space to exchange ideas and information with colleagues and to learn how others have dealt with the same issues you are having.
Join a Communities of Practice
Are you an ISPE Member looking for a better way to connect with your colleagues from around the globe? Or are you a Member seeking information on new trends, issues or concerns affecting your profession and your day-to-day work life? Join an ISPE Community of Practice (CoP). CoPs are groups of ISPE Members with a common interest and similar job functions who collaborate on topic-specific discussions using the ISPE networking forum, ISPE Engage.
