UPS scores top marks in healthcare survey

UPS and its specialist pharmaceutical supply chain arm, Marken have been recognised as top providers of temperature data collection and management services for clinical trial materials by an industry survey.
New York-based Nice Insight’s 2017 Clinical Supply Chain Logistics Survey quizzed 320 healthcare decision-makers at large and midsize organizations in North America, Europe and Asia. UPS/Marken consistently scored highest across a range of technical, operational and service capabilities.
UPS president of healthcare logistics strategy, Geoff Light, commented: “Improved health outcomes through sophisticated drugs and vaccines start with successful trials, and optimised logistics is an integral component of medical research and development.”
The logistics company announced an expansion of its clinical trial capabilities in 2016 followed, in December, by its acquisition of Marken which collects and ships drug products, clinical trial materials and biological samples.
Marken is described as the only patient-centric supply chain organization dedicated to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, offering direct-to-patient biological sample shipment services through a GMP-compliant network and hubs in 45 locations worldwide.
Marken chief executive, Wes Wheeler said: “The explosive growth of cell and gene therapies is a good example of clinical research that requires a streamlined supply chain powered by a team experienced in logistics solutions for complex therapies.”