27.03.2026 • Sponsored • Topics

Pharma and Medical Technology: Navigating Market Entry

When international companies bring a new drug or medical device to the European market, they face many challenges.

Mark Maurer and Michael Kuhn, Managing Directors of PharmaXnet Europe

Pharma and Medical Technology: Navigating Market Entry — © Loxxess

Whether it’s a prescription drug, a controlled substance (BTM), a dietary supplement, or a medical device—in addition to approvals and customs duties, there are many national requirements to meet when non-European pharmaceutical or life sciences companies want to bring a product to the European market. For logistics, a service provider is needed who is experienced and certified.

Due to the high complexity of pharmaceutical logistics, companies hire consultants who invite selected logistics providers to bid. These logistics providers are currently either large corporations whose standards must be adapted to, or regional third-party logistics solutions where the effort required to coordinate various partners is high. It is clear: When a non-European pharmaceutical company plans the Europe-wide launch of a new drug, it has previously found it difficult to find a suitable mid-sized logistics partner that offers warehouse logistics in multiple countries from a single source. PharmaXnet closes this gap.

European coverage via audited and GDP-certified partners

PharmaXnet was established on the initiative of LOXXESS pharma & healthcare, one of Germany’s leading pharmaceutical logistics providers, which has long collaborated with qualified partners across Europe. This European network for pharmaceutical logistics combines the local operational excellence of certified third-party logistics solutions with centralized European management, including uniform quality and governance structures. These services are designed for pharmaceutical and life sciences companies that operate in multiple European markets or must navigate complex market entry scenarios, such as those typically encountered with controlled substances.

In short: PharmaXnet certifies and centrally manages local partners to deliver flexible, scalable European pharmaceutical logistics. In doing so, the network extends LOXXESS’s 360-degree services for pharmaceutical logistics.

We possess the same level of expertise when it comes to the stringent requirements for controlled substances as we do for the launch of a new pharmaceutical product that a U.S. company wishes to introduce in Europe—from regulatory compliance to the management of hospital portals, for example. In this context, skilled logistics professionals actively contribute to planning the launch sequence and can implement a seamless transition from a central hub to satellite solutions to support scalability. For example, PharmaXnet can deliver implants on time if a chief physician schedules an operation in the evening and needs the medical device the next morning.

RFP: Key Questions for Decision-Making

Beyond national product approvals, there are many challenges to address when entering a market. The key questions here are:

Does the logistics provider know the regulatory requirements for entering the EU market?
Can they coordinate the distribution of pharmaceuticals or medical devices across various EU countries from a single source?
Does the logistics provider offer only standard cross-border services, or can they also implement customized 360-degree solutions—such as delivering medical devices to an operating room overnight?
Does the service provider handle small volumes or only larger ones? How flexible is it when it comes to scaling?
Do they offer quality and governance management tailored to Europe for pharmaceutical logistics?
Do they bring local expertise in pharmaceutical logistics to the table?

When issuing a request for proposals, it becomes clear that logistics providers like LOXXESS pharma & healthcare and European networks like PharmaXnet bring a wealth of expertise to the table when it comes to the successful market launch of a new drug or medical device. Such companies offer regulatory consulting, GDP and GMP certifications, and a wholesale license.