Groundbreaking Project Tests Air Transport of Precision Therapies Across Continents

A new project is testing how to safely transport precision therapies by air between Europe and the US. The first trial shipments have already travelled from Brussels Airport to Dallas, marking an early step toward a global logistics standard. Results from the study are due in early 2026.

The Precision Therapy Logistics Gateway (PTLG) project began sending representative cell and blood samples from Brussels to Dallas on 10 November 2025. Each consignment undergoes customs checks, temperature-controlled storage, and loading into refrigerated containers before departure. Upon landing in Dallas, the materials are transferred to BioLabs Pegasus Park for inspection, then returned to Belgium.

The initiative focuses on pinpointing weaknesses in current logistics chains. Speed, temperature stability, and full traceability are critical for precision therapies, which demand stricter handling than traditional pharmaceuticals. Over 50 test shipments are planned to refine the process.

Brussels Airport, a key European pharma hub, is leading the trials alongside at.las and the Science Park University of Antwerp. Meanwhile, other industry players are already adapting their services. Turkish Cargo introduced its TK Pharma product lines in January 2024, offering temperature-controlled containers and 24/7 monitoring. Collaborations between logistics firms like OCargo and humanitarian groups such as DRK and Malteser are also improving cold-chain transports for time-sensitive medicines.

The PTLG project aims to create the first internationally recognised protocol for air transport of precision therapies. If successful, the findings will help scale up logistics infrastructure to meet growing demand. The final framework is expected to be published in the first half of 2026.