Marken adds Japanese courier to global lineup

05-Aug-2019 - Last updated on 05-Aug-2019 at 16:14 GMT

(Image: Getty/Harvepino)

Marken acquires PCX International in Japan, bolstering its presence locally to provide ‘more expansive’ services to the company’s clinical clients.

From the company’s Tokyo headquarters, PCX coordinates the delivery of more than 3,000 clinical trial shipments every month.

PCX was founded in 2008 as a specialist courier and manages more than 200 drivers, who currently provide collection and delivery services for Marken in Japan.

According to the company, the acquisition will bolster Marken’s existing footprint in Japan which will see the addition of capacity for domestic and international clinical shipments.

View: Marken taps into innovations to smooth clinical trial supply chain

Marken CEO Wes Wheeler said in a statement that the addition satisfies the company’s need “for a greater physical presence locally in Japan and provides a platform for more expansive services to the local clinical client base.”

Marken, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UPS, has more than 1,000 staff managing 70,000 drug and biological shipments every month across more than 150 countries.

The company last month announced the acquisition of three European logistics firms in Italy, Austria, and Hungary. Following the deal, Marken will offer its hybrid services – which uses UPS' network and airline – to and from gateway airports in Rome, Milan, Vienna, and Budapest.