Octapharma USA’s Kerem Tokel has outlined how evolving regulatory and trade pressures are reshaping the risks facing pharmaceutical supply chains across the United States.
Tokel, speaking in the context of LogiPharma USA 2026, focused on how tariffs and the Drug Supply Chain Security Act are directly influencing the way stolen pharmaceutical loads are being resold across the market.
The Drug Supply Chain Security Act, widely known as DSCSA, has introduced stricter traceability requirements that were designed to protect patients and reduce the circulation of counterfeit or diverted medicines.
However, Tokel’s analysis suggests that bad actors are adapting their methods in response to both DSCSA enforcement and the shifting economics created by new tariff structures affecting pharmaceutical goods.
Tariffs have altered the relative value of certain pharmaceutical products, which in turn affects how stolen freight is handled, routed, and offloaded by those seeking to exploit gaps in the supply chain.
Tokel emphasised that standard operating procedures held by brokers and carriers are among the most important lines of defence against pharmaceutical cargo theft and diversion.
When broker and carrier SOPs are poorly defined, inconsistently applied, or not properly vetted by pharmaceutical shippers, those weaknesses can quickly translate into significant product risk and patient safety concerns.
Cold chain expertise gaps represent one of the most serious vulnerabilities in pharmaceutical logistics, as temperature-sensitive products require precise handling throughout every stage of their journey.
A failure at any point in the cold chain, whether due to inadequate carrier training or insufficient broker oversight, can compromise product integrity and expose companies to serious regulatory and financial consequences.
The intersection of DSCSA compliance, tariff-driven market shifts, and cold chain management means that pharmaceutical logistics professionals are now operating in a more complex risk environment than at any previous point in recent years.
Industry events like LogiPharma USA 2026 serve as an important forum for sharing expertise and developing practical strategies that help organisations close the cold chain knowledge gaps Tokel and others have identified.
Octapharma USA operates within one of the most heavily regulated sectors of the pharmaceutical industry, handling products that demand exceptionally high standards of care, security, and chain-of-custody documentation at every step.
Tokel’s remarks reflect a broader industry concern that as regulatory frameworks tighten and trade conditions shift, the pressure on logistics partners to demonstrate robust, auditable SOPs will only continue to grow.
For pharmaceutical companies seeking to protect their freight, the message is clear: partner selection, SOP scrutiny, and cold chain competency must be treated as core risk management priorities rather than secondary operational concerns.