Pharmafile Logo

From molecule to market and beyond: Uniphar announces extended global commercialization platform

Healthcare services business, Uniphar, has developed its full-service offering that harnesses Uniphar’s 57 years in the industry delivering specialist services to more than 200 international clients across 180 countries.

- PMLiVE

Combining Uniphar’s established expertise and tailored strategies, the platform is designed to support pharmaceutical and biotech companies navigate the complexities of launching products, and coincides with the launch of Uniphar’s seventh cell and gene therapy program on behalf of a leading [pharmaceutical company].

Started by Irish community pharmacists in 1967, Uniphar has transformed through acquisition and growth into a diversified healthcare services company focused on improving patient access to pharmaco-medical products worldwide.

“The challenges facing pharma and biotech companies can be far-ranging when it comes to launching innovative therapies, and as a result, there’s a significant cohort of medicines that aren’t being launched in large parts of the world, despite there being a patient need.” explains Brian O’Shaughnessy, Chief Commercial Officer at Uniphar.

“Diverse regulatory requirements, R&D costs, pricing pressure and a lack of infrastructure are just some of the potential barrier’s companies can face when launching complex medicines in complex markets. It requires experience, expertise and a highly specialized supply chain. Being agile to work with these challenges and create new infrastructure or new capability to overcome them, is what makes Uniphar’s commercialization platform uniquely positioned.”

Unlocking Europe

With its independent commercial potential, the European pharmaceutical market currently makes up 19% of the global market[1] and this figure is set to grow in 2025. However, latest research highlights 64% of sales of new medicines launched during the period 2016-2021 were in the US, compared with only 16.8% in Europe[2], posing both a challenge and an opportunity for pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

“Understanding the diverse needs and regulations of different European markets is vital to unlocking access to life changing medicines wherever there’s a patient that requires it. Adapting to the evolving pharmaceutical landscape that’s been witnessed over the last 25 years and looking at the future direction of the sector, has provided us with the insight to create a platform that helps to simplify the process and not only provide the solutions to overcome market access challenges, but also increase access to medicines for both healthcare providers and patients.Says Brian O’Shaughnessy. 

Making a difference through equitable access for cell & gene therapies

By 2030, up to 60 new cell and gene therapies are expected to be ready for routine practice, and addressing equitable access will help to ensure that these therapies reach the 350,000+ patients who stand to benefit[3].

Uniphar is now working on a seventh cell & gene therapy (CGT) expanded access program, and in 2023 successfully delivered complex therapies to 500 patients across 50 countries. As the global leading expert in cell and gene therapy access, Uniphar’s pharma division draws together multifunctional teams and infrastructure to support commercialization.

“The work that Uniphar is doing with cell and gene therapies is a perfect example of how important the right infrastructure is when it comes to bringing highly complex, lifesaving therapies to patients in a real-world setting. However, ensuring equitable access to these ground-breaking medicines is key to meeting patient need.”

For more information on Uniphar, visit www.Uniphar.com/Pharma

ENDS

Media enquiries

For all media enquiries, contact Heather.Hopkin@TeamTala.com / +44 (0)7545536147

About Uniphar

Uniphar Group is a trusted global partner to pharma, medtech and biotech companies, working to improve patient access to medicines around the world. Uniphar’s team of experts harness the capabilities, infrastructure and expertise of a diversified pharmaceutical service provider with more than 55 years’ building success stories with 200+ multinational clients. Our understanding of the shifting market dynamics allows us to deliver tailored specialist services and solutions for our clients’ changing needs. Uniphar Pharma comprises Uniphar | Access, Uniphar | Medical, and Uniphar | Commercial – together our combined capabilities make us your trusted partner to unlock access for your patients to innovative therapies and optimise value for brands globally. Working from clinical development to commercialisation, our end-to-end services remove barriers to launch, increase access and optimise brands.

[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/266547/total-value-of-world-pharmaceutical-market-by-submarket-since-2006/

[2] https://www.efpia.eu/media/637143/the-pharmaceutical-industry-in-figures-2022.pdf

[3] 4. Saleh, S., Dabbous, O., Sullivan, S., Ankleshwaria, D., Trombini, D., Toumi, M., … & Tunis, S. (2023). HSD88 A Practical Approach for the Adoption of the Hub and Spoke Model for Cell and Gene Therapies in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: Framework and Simulation Case Studies. Value in Health, 26(6), S253.

This content was provided by Uniphar

Company Details

 Latest Content from  Uniphar 

Uniphar announces U.S. expansion, integrating leading companies and appointing new senior leadership

- New integration aligns U.S. operations, unifying RRD BioPharma Development, Uniphar Clinical, Diligent Health Solutions and BESTMSLs under the Uniphar brand. - Mike Ebhardt is appointed President of Uniphar Pharma...

Uniphar On Track to Achieve SBTi Target of Halving Scope 1 and 2 Emissions by 2030

[Dublin, 9th October 2025] Uniphar, a global leader in pharmaceutical and medtech solutions, is making progress towards its near-term Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) goal of halving Scope 1 and...

Streamlining European expansion for cell and gene therapies

Tom Smith, Strategic Director, Cell and Gene Therapies, Uniphar, discusses the essential elements biotechs need for commercial success in Europe’s unique market when developing cell and gene therapies (CGTs). Europe...

Current CGT landscape and future outlook  

What makes CGT unique  Cell and gene therapy (CGT) is a unique treatment that uses cells and genetic material to treat and cure diseases. Personalized to the patient, CGT’s offer...

Building for Success: Aligning Preclinical and Phase 1 Strategy with Commercial Goals 

This article concludes our three-part series on preparing cell and gene therapies (CGTs) for successful launch and long-term viability. The first article explored the unique scientific and logistical challenges of...

Navigating the complexities of launch preparation for Cell and Gene Therapy

Cell and gene therapies (CGT) provide transformative treatment that can treat conditions that were previously considered untreatable. As described in the previous article in this series, most CGTs target patients...

Santhera Secures Agreement with Uniphar for the Distribution of AGAMREE® (Vamorolone) in five GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Countries

Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SIX: SANN) announces the signing of an exclusive agreement with Uniphar to manage the distribution of AGAMREE® (vamorolone) in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,...

Uniphar Rebrands On Demand Business to Uniphar Global Sourcing, Strengthening Global Pharmaceutical Offering

Dublin, Ireland 16th July 2025 – Leading global healthcare services provider, Uniphar, has launched Uniphar | Global Sourcing, a new identity for its On Demand business that strengthens its position...

Uniphar Secures 10th Cell and Gene Therapy Project

[Dublin, April 17th 2025] Uniphar, a global leader in pharmaceutical and medtech solutions has announced the launch of its 10th cell and gene therapy (CGT) project. The milestone reinforces Uniphar’s...

Uniphar Expands Global Footprint with Three New Facilities in the USA, Netherlands and Ireland

[Dublin, 05 February 2025] Global partner to pharmaceutical and medtech manufacturers, Uniphar, is expanding its international presence with the launch of three new, state-of-the-art facilities, strategically positioned across key global...