The first test shipments of human cell and blood material representative of precision therapies — including innovative treatments for cancer and rare diseases — have departed from Brussels Airport to Dallas (United States). The shipments are part of the Precision Therapy Logistics Gateway (PTLG) project.
Since November, ten test shipments containing cell and blood samples have been sent from Brussels Airport to BioLabs Pegasus Park, a biotechnology cluster in Dallas, USA. These shipments were transported successfully, and a further fifty shipments are scheduled in the coming weeks.
Precision therapies — including cell, gene and radioligand therapies — are personalised treatments developed for individual patients. Due to their highly sensitive nature, they require fast and reliable transport under strictly controlled conditions, particularly with regard to temperature and lead time.
The test shipments are coordinated by at.las, the Antwerp ecosystem for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP), in collaboration with the Science Park University of Antwerp in Niel. The Laboratory of Experimental Haematology at the University of Antwerp provides the research samples.
This cell and blood material, sourced from healthy donors, is transported from the Centre for Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine (CCRG) of the Antwerp University Hospital (UZA) to Brussels Airport. Upon return from Dallas, the test shipments are delivered back to the CCRG.
Expertise in the transport of pharmaceutical goods
As Europe’s preferred pharmaceutical hub, Brussels Airport has extensive expertise and infrastructure for the transport of time- and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical goods. Its cargo area offers a total capacity of approximately 45,000 m² of temperature-controlled storage space.
Upon arrival at Brussels Airport, the test shipments undergo customs control and are stored in a temperature-controlled zone while awaiting departure. They are then transferred to the aircraft in refrigerated containers — developed by Brussels Airport itself ten years ago — ensuring optimal conditions throughout the air transport.
In Dallas, the material is transported to a laboratory at BioLabs Pegasus Park, where it undergoes a visual inspection before being returned to Belgium. These are relatively small consignments transported as cargo in the hold of passenger flights. This logistics model allows cellular material to travel instead of patients, significantly improving access to these therapies.
“With this project, we are strengthening our role as a pioneer in pharmaceutical logistics, not only in Europe but worldwide. The production and use of precision therapies in Belgium will increase significantly in the coming years. This requires a logistics approach in which speed, accuracy and reliability are essential. Together with our partners, we are putting our expertise at the service of this important innovation and contributing to the healthcare of the future,”
said Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport.
Development of a standardised protocol
Sensors are added to the shipments to monitor critical parameters — such as lead times, temperature control and traceability — throughout the logistics process. This data enables the identification of potential risks and bottlenecks across the transport chain.
The results of the test project are expected in the first half of 2026. Based on these findings, the project partners, led by Air Cargo Belgium, will develop an internationally recognised standardised protocol for the logistics chain of precision therapies, as no such protocol currently exists.
During the test phase, Brussels Airport is also assessing the need to develop a dedicated logistics centre within the cargo area to support the transport of precision therapies.
The power of collaboration
The test shipments form part of the pioneering Precision Therapy Logistics Gateway (PTLG) project, launched in early 2025. The initiative is a collaboration between Brussels Airport, Pharma.Aero, Air Cargo Belgium and at.las, the Antwerp ecosystem for ATMP.
The project is co-funded by the province of Antwerp and the province of Flemish Brabant, both of which support research into establishing a standardised logistics chain for precision therapies.