Safeguarding every R&D sample: how sustainable storage and smart scalability keep research viable

Introduction

Modern R&D organizations, from global pharmaceutical giants to specialized biotech and CDMOs, invest vast time, talent, and capital in developing breakthrough drugs, cell and gene therapies, vaccines, and new ingredients. But every promising asset, from a biological sample to a finished stability batch, is only as valuable as its integrity and viability.

Behind every vial, slide, or test batch lies a critical truth: storage is not passive. If a sample fails while in storage, the research timeline fails with it. It is easy to focus on the volume of material archived — thousands to millions of samples stored across global networks — while overlooking whether each unit is genuinely protected, tracked, and accessible when needed.

Mid-tier and large companies with multiple sites, CROs, and CDMOs feel this risk most keenly. A single oversight can delay trials, force retesting, breach regulatory conditions, and ultimately affect patient access to therapies. The stakes are high: industry data suggests temperature excursions alone, cost global pharma nearly $35 billion annually in losses (1). The solution starts with asking: are your samples just stored, or are they truly safeguarded for the future (see Figure 1)?