The LabCorp business – which is based in Hamburg, Germany – provides biological sampling kit production services and has capacity to produce around 60,000 units a month for use in clinical trials.
Marken CEO Wes Wheeler said the acquisition “Perfectly aligns with our global strategy as the leading provider in global life science supply chain solutions. The management and employee base provide unparalleled experience in clinical trial supply and biological sampling kit production.”
This echos what Wheeler told Outsourcoing-pharma.com earlier this year when he said Marken “is in the process of shifting its strategy to expand services and geographies,” adding that “we plan to transform from a premium courier to a full service supply chain services company.”
The deal – financial terms of which were not disclosed – also includes a master services agreement that will see Marken provide LabCorp’s clinical trial division with courier services and kit building supply for clinical trials.
David Johnston, Senior Vice President of LabCorp Clinical Trials, stressed the benefits of the new arrangement for customers, explaining that: “We will provide a more cost effective way to provide the highest quality testing for our clients.”
Developments
The deal follows just two months after Marken set up its CorTec development team remit is to drive innovation at Marken in terms of the technologies and logistics services the firm offers.
Since then Marken has launched a new shipping system specifically designed for biological samples – BioSystem –, announced plans to establish offices in India and has commissioned a new regional HQ in London.
These developments – coupled with the latest acquisition - bring Marken’s offering even more closely into line with that of primary rival World Courier and are sure not to have escaped the attention of that firm’s new owner AmerisourceBergen.