Marken, the clinical supply chain subsidiary of UPS recently announced to have acquired 3 European logistics firms; HRTL based in Italy, Der Kurier & HETO in Hungary and Austria. In collaboration, the group operates with offices in Milan, Vienna, Milan, Gyor (near Budapest) and Rome to deliver 7,000 clinical trial shipments every month.

For the record, HRTL was founded as a specialist courier service, serving the clinical trials industry. Since then, the group has obtained its own licenses to run services in their respective countries. The group has also developed strong relationships with airlines, customs brokers & local providers. The group's locations are near major airports for providing maximum flexibility for accelerating time & temperature-sensitive shipments.

As per credible sources, Marken has plans to expand its core clinical trials logistics prospects in eastern & Central Europe. Austria, Hungary & Italy are major sources of drug manufacturing and particularly drugs which are produced in sterile format. 

Due to sensitivity, sterile drug product requires certain temperature conditions during transport for stability.  Central & Eastern Europe are also major locations for recruitment of clinical trial patients and this acquisition will reinforce biologic sample services by Marken in the region. The firm’s hybrid services, which employ the network and airline services of UPS, will be offered gateway airports in Budapest, Rome, Milan & Vienna.

Wes Wheeler, CEO, Marken, was reported to say that the acquisition of this group of companies is an extension of firm’s growth with its footprint expansion in Italy, Austria & Hungary. The company plans to quickly integrate these new companies to its network and will provide a more efficient operating service in Europe.

The new acquisition will bring Marken's total network of sites to 51, which includes 10 Good Manufacturing Practice qualified clinical storage depots. This acquisition is also expected to strengthen the firm’s dedication to providing logistics services to the pharmaceutical companies and life sciences industries in Europe.

Source credits: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/marken-acquires-three-european-logistics-050000009.html