Unit 11 Carnforth Business Park,“We saw the Strep A demand increasing and we were able to quickly identify a product that would be accessible and effective that we could offer to our consumer base.”
April 2023: In December 2022, there was a rapid increase of diagnosed Group A Streptococcus bacteria (Strep A) cases, with the biggest increase of cases found amongst five-to-fifteen year-olds. In response to the increase, 2San, a global supplier of high-quality innovative healthcare products and solutions, worked with its global suppliers to quickly roll out self diagnostic tests. This allowed consumers, including parents, to test for Strep A at home with the aim of identifying cases quickly and in an isolated environment, hoping to reduce overall cases.
Following the rise in cases, the 2San team were able to immediately begin work with partners in order to source a rapid Strep A test to bring to the UK market, as well as preparing a secure supply chain to allow the product to reach consumers nationwide. From the initial idea through to the product launching with the UK’s largest pharmacy retailer, LloydsPharmacy, took a total of four to six weeks. This underlines how as an innovative business with global experience, 2San can work in a fast-paced environment in order to deliver reactive, as well as proactive, healthcare solutions.
As many of the common symptoms of Strep A mimic those of flu and / or more serious colds, including a high temperature, swollen glands, sore throat, muscle ache, etc., and with the illness being most common within school-age children, the spread of Strep A in the UK was quick to take hold.
At the same time, there was no simple at-home test available to consumers in order to identify the presence of the bacterial virus quickly and effectively, and crucially without utilising the resources of the NHS.
Time Period: With the outbreak occurring in the winter months demand was high. However, religious / traditional holiday periods across the globe, including Christmas and Chinese New Year, meant timeframes were tight. What’s more, 2San needed to secure a product which crucially had already been approved by relevant regulatory bodies in order to bring it to the UK.
Speed: With Strep A infections increasing, there was high demand for a product which could quickly identify the illness. The 2San team delivered over 250 million COVID tests globally over the course of the pandemic, which meant they had the expertise, knowledge and experience necessary to be able to deliver a critical path, moving very quickly from identifying a need, to sourcing and buying a reliable and effective test, to getting the product into the UK. This involved detailed planning and co-ordination across 2San, its supplier, logistics partner, and end customer – LloydsPharmacy.
Regulatory Approval: The key to being able to move quickly and implement a rapid response was to source a Strep A test which had already gone through regulatory approval for sale in the UK market. This ensured there was no delay in bringing a much-needed product to market. Operating in more than 20 markets globally, and working alongside Governments and health care providers, gives 2San unique insight and regulatory experience. By having a multi-supplier strategy, the team can respond quickly to each market and ensure that all relevant and necessary regulations are met quickly and efficiently.
2San initiated a rapid sourcing exercise to identify what products currently available in the market. This coincided with engaging with suppliers to source the best and most suitable materials to purchase for this type of product in the UK.
Following this, the appropriate approvals were explored to ensure products were risk free and safe for customers, alongside being compliant with all UK regulations.
Through the success of rapid sourcing, 2San were able to identify an opportunity, secure a supply and collectively work together to have everything ready for the test to become available for consumers.
Clio Aubugeau-Williams, Head of Global Logistics at 2San, has sheds light on the process of meeting the demand and bringing a product to the UK market for a highly important infection that has swept across the UK: “We knew there was a need for people to be able to test for Strep A at home. We also knew that consumers are more willing to test at home and more comfortable with the process and reliability of self diagnosing in order to gain clarity on what symptoms mean, creating the launchpad to be able to make informed decisions on next steps. The only issue was in the UK, there was a real lack of a suitable product to meet the needs.
“One of biggest drivers at 2San is to be able to provide better care to more people whilst supporting our hard working NHS teams, taking the pressure off and putting the power directly back into consumers’ hands to diagnose or identify potential health issues at home – before going to a medical professional for next steps if and when necessary. Our team identified the issue and potential pinch points – such as the virus being spread by children at school before entering the wider population – and were able to use this work with suppliers to source a suitable product.
“We had everything planned down to the wire, the product arrived within the week then was cleared through customs in a short period of time. The next day it was delivered widespread to LloydsPharmacys ready for customers.”
2San’s logistic partner also worked closely with the team at an earlier stage in the process, ensuring smoother running.
“We engaged with our logistic team very early on to ensure that as soon as the product was manufactured, we had everything set in stone to move quickly, with multiple organisation collectively responding quickly,” Clio has emphasised.
The Results:
Research conducted by IPSOS for 2San, October 2022, based on responses from 1000 consumers
