United Parcel Service Company, Marken, has expanded its logistics footprint in Italy, Austria and Hungary.
Marken has acquired HRTL, an Italy-based specialist courier that serves the clinical trials industry. The company has also acquired HETO and Der Kurier, based in Austria and Hungary respectively.
The group operates with offices in Vienna, Milan, Rome and Gyor (near Budapest) to deliver 7,000 clinical trial shipments per month. This brings Marken’s total network of sites to 51, including 10 Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) qualified clinical storage depots.
The acquisition strengthens Marken’s commitment to providing logistics services to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries in Europe. It is reported to expand Marken’s core clinical trials logistics opportunities in central and eastern Europe.
Italy, Hungary and Austria are important sources of drug manufacturing, according to Marken, particularly drugs which are manufactured in sterile format. Sterile drug products are particularly sensitive and require specific temperature conditions during transport to ensure stability. Eastern and Central Europe are also important locations for recruitment of clinical trial patients and this acquisition further strengthens Marken’s biologic sample services in the region. Marken’s hybrid services, which employ the use of UPS’ network and airline, will be offered to and from gateway airports in Rome, Milan, Vienna and Budapest.
“The acquisition of this group of companies is an extension of Marken’s growth and it satisfies our need for a physical presence in Italy, Austria and Hungary,” said Marken CEO, Wes Wheeler. “Marken will quickly integrate these three new companies into the Marken network and provide a more robust operating presence in Europe. Our goal is always to provide best in class supply chain services and this acquisition makes us stronger. We welcome the three companies and their employees to our family.”