(Image:  Hormuz Strait via marinevesseltraffic.com & PharmaSource, Life Science Connect, 2026 – INSIGHT Iran and Strait of Hormuz Crisis – Impact on Pharmaceutical Supply Chain) 

THE PURCHASES WE MAKE

We take a lot for granted regarding over-the-counter medicines and prescribed drugs from pharmacies we obtain from drug stores.  We automatically believe that they are manufactured domestically.  Actually, many of them have a particular supply chain originating from other countries, and that traffic flow cannot be interrupted as those items make their way to the numerous destinations.

Case in point, medicines and medical supplies travel through supply chains and, in particular, through the Strait of Hormuz.  

ABOUT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ

As of this writing, the Strait of Hormuz closed February 27, 2026, and remains closed during the war/conflict with Iran (hormuzstraitmonitor.com, 2026).

“The Strait of Hormuz represents far more than a regional shipping lane—it’s the primary artery through which global energy flows. Any disruption would immediately reverberate through interconnected supply chains, hitting pharmaceutical operations through multiple vectors” (PharmaSource. Life Science Connect, 2026).

SUPPLY CHAIN CRISIS MANAGEMENT

McCullough (2026) reported that:

“The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in early 2026 has exposed the fragility of global health supply chains by highlighting how deeply key pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing inputs depend on this narrow maritime corridor. The Strait handles about 20% of global petroleum and liquefied natural gas flows, which serve as the chemical and energy backbone for pharmaceutical and medical supply manufacturing worldwide.”

The mantra from the 2025 CDMO Live conference is “Know your supply chain” (PharmaSource. Life Science Connect, 2026).  Ryan Kelly, the Senior Director of Supply Chain Security and Brand Protection, offered his Critical Best Practices with rx-360 (PharmaSource. Life Science Connect, 2025), (RX-360, 2026).  According to PharmaSource. Life Science Connect (2025), Kelly advised investing in technology since that dynamic played an enormous role during COVID [“…that’s what’s helping manufacturers respond to the unexpected”] (PharmaSource. Life Science Connect, 2025).  Kelly indicated that it’s important to “know who your suppliers are”, and “know who their suppliers are” as well.

VULNERABLE PHARMACEUTICAL SHIPMENTS

Yada & Hirschfeld (2026) talked about pharmaceutical items that are the most vulnerable.  Medicines in liquid form (i.e., vaccines, cancer treatments, insulin, etc.) need to be stored at certain temperatures to remain fresh and uncontaminated.

Yada & Hirschfeld (2026):  

“Most vaccines, for example, must be stored in transit between 2°C and 8°C. Cargo carriers could need a week and a half to catch up for every week that air shipments are suspended, increasing the risk of spoiled cold-chain products and shortages. These temperature-sensitive shipments contain specialized equipment that, if held up in the Middle East due to routing delays, may cause equipment shortages in subsequent shipments.”

Collins (2025) provided further information regarding these cold-chain products:

“Critical materials like pharmaceuticals and food, or other perishable items like fresh flowers, all need to be transported in specific temperate-controlled vehicles. 

To ensure they arrive at their destination fresh and safe, these items are under strict care with careful monitoring the entire journey.

Cold chain logistics refers to the careful movement of these perishable items and products like vaccines.

A significant amount of work goes into these cold chains, whether its new technology to ensure the safe monitoring of temperatures, or new vehicles which can manage the product” (Collins, 2026).

COMPANIES LEARNING WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW

Finally, companies need to incorporate into their business practices a strong understanding of global developments as routine and how those developments can affect their businesses.  They need to know what their particular supply chains are (i.e., the countries involved and the routes taken for healthy shipment arrival).  Corporations need to invest heavily in technology to prevent as much disruption as possible whenever a global conflict becomes apparent.  Also, businesses will have to remove any vulnerability issues as much as possible within these supply chains so that pharmaceutical medicines and supplies have a safe and healthy travel experience as they reach the consumer at the drug stores.

Vikki

References

Collins, L. (2025).  Top 10:  Cold Chain Logistics Companies.  Retrieved From https://supplychaindigital.com/top10/top-10-cold-chain-logistics-companies

Hormuz Strait Monitor.  (2026).  Strait Of Hormuz LIVE.  Retrieved from https://hormuzstraitmonitor.com/

McCullough, P. A., MD, MPH. (2026).  A Chokepoint For Modern Medicine:  The Strait Of Hormuz And The Hidden Fragility Of Global Health Supply Chains.  Retrieved From https://publichealthpolicyjournal.com/a-chokepoint-for-modern-medicine-the-strait-of-hormuz-and-the-hidden-fragility-of-global-health-supply-chains/

PharmaSource.  Life Science Connect. (2026).  INSIGHT. Iran And Strait Of Hormuz Crisis – Impact on Pharmaceutical Supply Chain.  Retrieved from https://pharmasource.global/content/expert-insight/iran-and-strait-of-hormuz-crisis-impact-on-pharmaceutical-supply-chain/

PharmaSource.  Life Science Connect. (2025).  Podcast.  Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Disruption – Critical Best Practices With Rx-360.  https://pharmasource.global/content/podcast/rx-360s-ryan-kelly-shares-critical-best-practices-for-managing-pharmaceutical-supply-chain-disruptions/

RX-360.  (2026).  About RX-360. Retrieved From https://rx-360.org/about/

Yadav, P., and Hirschfeld, A.  (2026).  Governance.  Where The Iran War Could Disrupt Pharmaceutical Chains.  Pharmaceutical company executives are responding to the immediate supply-chain threats by targeting unconventional routes.  Retrieved From https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/where-the-iran-war-could-disrupt-pharmaceutical-supply-chains