UPS, the shipping firm, has agreed to acquire Marken, a Research Triangle Park, North Carolina-based provider of logistic and supply-chain services for clinical trial materials. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The transaction expands UPS’ reach across the life sciences customer base and is expected to close by December 31, 2016, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.

Marken operates a global network of clinical supply-chain services, and this acquisition follows multiple UPS acquisitions that have expanded the shipping company’s healthcare logistics services portfolio. Marken collects and transports clinical trial materials and investigational medicinal products to 49,000 clinical trial sites as well as shipping biological samples from these sites to central laboratories.

With the acquisition, UPS gains more than 650 employees and 44 locations worldwide, including 10 depots that are compliant with GMP. Marken provides service to pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, and contract research organizations engaged in the clinical trials process.

In July, UPS announced expanded logistics capabilities for clinical trials. The company’s network includes temperature-sensitive storage and transportation and 24-hour monitoring and security. UPS now has more than 100 healthcare-dedicated facilities with 60 GMP-compliant locations.

Source: Marken