UPS Healthcare announced today an investment and further expansionof its capabilities in cell and gene services via Marken, a UPScompany. UPS Healthcare is adding eight centers of excellence tosupport Marken’s global network of cell and gene services, bringingthe total to 14 certified sites. The expanded network will supportMarken’s well-established services including cryogenic transportservices, patient data protection, superior temperature monitoringtechnology and real-time GPS tracking.
As an important part of UPS Healthcare’s offerings, Marken’sworldwide network includes 56 certified locations to handle thesensitive shipments required during the clinical development ofcell and gene therapies. The eight new locations – New York, Miami,Amsterdam, Paris, Melbourne, Sidney, Tokyo and Seoul – strengthenMarken’s global Center of Excellence network, which alreadyincludes centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia,London, Frankfurt and Singapore.
Marken has established a global control center in its ResearchTriangle Park headquarters where it monitors all activitiesrelative to its cell and gene clinical trials. The control centermonitors location and temperature in real time for all shipments,leverages UPS’s expansive global network, monitors flight statusand manages all potential supply chain disruptions.
Wes Wheeler, president of UPS Healthcare, commented, “UPSHealthcare continues to expand our service portfolio to support ourgrowing number of cell and gene clients. These new breakthroughtherapies are among the most complex and sensitive in our industryand we are planning on a best-in-class level of performance. Wewill continue to invest in our capabilities and maintain Marken’sleadership position in the clinical trial logistics industry.”
About UPS Healthcare and Marken
UPS Healthcare delivers unparalleled logistics expertise to itscustomers around the world. UPS Healthcare has more than 10 millionsquare feet of cGMP- or cGDP-compliant healthcare distributionspace globally. UPS Healthcare services include inventorymanagement, temperature-controlled packaging and shipping, storageand fulfillment of medical devices, labs and clinical triallogistics. UPS Healthcare’s global infrastructure, its newest UPSPremier visibility service, its track and trace technology, and itsglobal quality system are well-suited to meet today’s complexlogistics demands for the pharmaceutical, medical device andlaboratory diagnostic industries.
Marken is a wholly owned subsidiary of UPS and is a critical partof UPS Healthcare. With Polar Speed and Marken included, the UPSHealthcare division staffs 128 locations with 5,500 employeesworldwide. Marken offers a state-of-the-art GMP-compliant depotnetwork and logistic hubs for clinical drug product storage anddistribution in 56 locations worldwide, while maintaining theleading position for Direct to Patient and Home Health careservices, biological sample shipments and biological kitproduction. Marken’s dedicated 1,600 staff members manage 100,000drug product and biological sample shipments every month at alltemperature ranges in more than 220 countries. Additional servicessuch as ancillary material sourcing, storage and distribution,shipment lane verification and qualifications, as well as GDP,regulatory and compliance consultancy add to Marken’s uniqueposition in the pharma and logistics industry.
