In Vitro Fertilization Shipments Require Critical Handling and Speed

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, May 7, 2013 — Marken is experiencing significant growth in demand for their specialized handling and shipments of biopsied embryo cells to laboratories across the US.  These cells are often used in Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnostic Testing (PGD) and to diagnose certain diseases and conditions during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.  Marken is well known for its highly personalized service which requires that the samples are placed in customized, temperature controlled containers and rapidly transported to specialized laboratories, where they are tested, often within 24 hours.  With time being such a critical element, the demand for Marken’s logistical services continues to grow with the increased demand for IVF and PGD services.

Marken is 100% dedicated to the life sciences industry, which makes them uniquely qualified to work with IVF clinics and PGD laboratories, universities and research centers that provide these services to patients.

Wes Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer, Marken

Wes Wheeler, Marken’s Chief Executive Officer, believes more and more laboratories are turning to Marken for this type of specialized service. He commented, “We do whatever it takes to deliver these irreplaceable samples under any circumstances.  The coordination and dedication between our local Marken staff and their laboratory customers is both impressive and heartwarming. The samples may arrive anytime during the day or night and our teams will stay until the last sample is delivered. We understand our role in delivering to the laboratories as quickly and as safely as possible. It’s a powerful mission.”

IVF can be a complex and expensive procedure, increasing the critical nature of selecting a specialized courier who can guarantee on-time delivery and careful handling of their samples.  An international committee estimates that the total number of IVF births has reached five million worldwide. With such a longstanding history in the pharma industry, Marken is poised to continue to lead and grow the challenging dynamics of supplying logistics to the market for Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

About Marken

Marken is the leading global clinical supply chain solutions provider dedicated to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, supporting over 49,000 clinical investigators in more than 150 countries. Marken integrates Depot and Logistics services into solutions that extend the reach of clinical trials to even the most remote treatment naive geographies.

CONTACT: Christine Noble, info@marken.com, +1 919 474 6890, www.marken.com

Marken Overcomes a

Snow Emergency to Deliver

Life-Saving Drug

Challenge

Heavy snowfalls, flight cancellations, and difficult driving conditions created a logistical barrier when a life-saving drug needed to be transported from Dreux, France, to a dying patient, suffering from a hemorrhage and affected with hemophelia, in London. Weather conditions created traffic delays in North France and created 11 hours of traffic on the Eurotunnel, making it improbable that the shipment would be delivered in time.

Solution

Marken worked tirelessly with French Police to secure priority access on the next English Channel ferry to England. From the ferry, Marken arranged for a Coast Guard helicopter to transport the drug shipment to the hospital.

Outcome

Marken successfully delivered the critical life-saving drug to the London patient on time, at the right temperature, all the while maintaining the drug’s integrity. Marken’s professional relationships with law enforcement and other local agencies ensured that the patient received a timely dose of the administrated medication to ensure a positive outcome. Marken made it happen!

Printable PDF Version

MARKEN HOSTS INDUSTRY PANEL EVENT IN MEXICO CITY

Leading Experts to Discuss Challenges of Conducting Clinical Trials with

Biologics & Biosimilars in Latin America

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, March 28, 2013 — Marken today announced a life sciences panel event which will take place on April 11^th to explore the key issues and challenges the industry faces with biologics and biosimilar trials in Latin America.  Biosimilars have become increasingly attractive to the pharma industry and many Latin American governments are developing abbreviated regulatory pathways for biosimilars.  Invited panelists include experts who will share their knowledge, experience, and real examples of some of the economic, political, and regulatory factors that play a role while conducting clinical trials.

Federico Lerner, Senior Director of Operations, Latin America, PRA International

Sashka Dunkerley, Chief Scientific Officer, Novartis

Francisco Garcia, Regional Clinical Monitoring Manager, Sanofi Pasteur

Arturo Rodriguez Jacob, President, Mexican Association of CRO’s Mexico at ACROM

Dan Bell, Vice President, Regulatory Compliance and Technical Affairs, Marken

Marken hosts panel events as well as workshops and roundtables all around the globe in order to facilitate information-sharing among experts in the clinical trial arena.

The event coincides with Marken’s grand opening for their second GMP-compliant depot located in Mexico City.  The new 15,000 square foot facility, which replaces the first depot opened by Marken in 2011, provides secure temperature controlled storage and distribution for pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and diagnostic equipment. The new depot will supplement Marken’s existing network of global depots in Germany, Singapore, the US, Argentina, and China.

Space for the panel event is limited. Interested in attending?  Please respond to: RSVP.depot@marken.com

About Marken

Marken is the leading global clinical supply chain solutions provider dedicated to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, supporting over 49,000 clinical investigators in more than 150 countries. Marken integrates Depot and Logistics services into solutions that extend the reach of clinical trials to even the most remote treatment naive geographies.

CONTACT: Christine Noble, info@marken.com, +1 919 474 6890, www.marken.com

MARKEN OPENS PHARMACEUTICAL DEPOT IN BEIJING CHINA

The global depot network is now entering its final phase of development

Research Triangle Park, NC, March 7, 2013. Marken announced today the completion of its new pharmaceutical depot in Beijing, China.  The new facility which provides 850 m² of GMP compliant space for temperature controlled storage as well as distribution of clinical trial supplies is directly located next to the Beijing Capital International Airport. The new pharmaceutical depot is co-located with the existing Marken Beijing branch office to provide a fully integrated and best in class service to clients.

“We are very pleased to announce the completion of our new Depot in China. We now have six fully operational depots in strategic areas globally and plan to open five additional depots before the end of 2013. Enlarging our network to provide the most efficient and flexible solutions to our clients is one of our key priorities for 2013,” said Gerit Offenhauser, Senior Vice President, Clinical Trials Distribution.

Marken’s depots provide secure temperature controlled storage and distribution for pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and diagnostic equipment. The new depot will supplement Marken’s existing network of global depots in Germany, Singapore, the US, Argentina, and Mexico.  Marken’s depot network is connected through the Solo platform, a global state-of-the-art, 21 CFR part 11 validated, cloud based inventory management system which tracks dosages at the patient level.

Wes Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer of Marken said “We are proud to expand our pharmaceutical service depot network to Beijing, China. We are now pushing forward with more depots in key countries around the world such as Brazil, Chile, Columbia and Russia. Through expanded investment in facilities and technologies, we will continue to ensure that our clients are provided with full service, global clinical supply chain solutions that provide the highest quality courier and logistics services to our clients.”

About Marken

Marken is the leading global clinical supply chain solutions provider dedicated to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, supporting over 49,000 clinical investigators in more than 150 countries. Marken integrates Depot and Logistics services into solutions that extend the reach of clinical trials to even the most remote treatment in naive geographies.

CONTACT: Christine Noble, info@marken.com, +1 919 474 6890, www.marken.com

MARKEN APPOINTS NEW DIRECTORS TO BOARD

Timothy C. Tyson and Michael O’Donnell Appointed as Independent Directors

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, March 5, 2013 – Marken today announced that it has appointed two independent directors to its Board as a result of Marken’s recent restructuring completed on December 21, 2012.  The appointment of Timothy C. Tyson and Michael O’Donnell is the next step in Marken’s strategy to focus on serving the global life sciences industry.

Tim Tyson is a veteran leader in the global pharmaceutical market place.  He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Aptuit LLC, a global pharmaceutical services company based in the US.  He was CEO and President of Valeant Pharmaceuticals Inc. from 2003-2008.  Prior to that, Mr. Tyson held various leadership roles including as President, Global Manufacturing & Supply at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).  During his 14 years at GSK, he led the Glaxo Dermatology and Cerenex Divisions, the US Marketing Division, and the US Sales Divisions where he launched 32 products, eight of which exceeded $1billion in global sales.  Mr. Tyson is an engineering graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, and holds a masters degree in public administration from Jackson State University. He has held key positions on the PhRMA Board and the International Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE).

Michael O’Donnell currently serves as Chairman of Verna, a company specializing in infectious control products, and as non-executive Director of Helical Bar plc. a property development firm.  He has served as an independent Director on the Boards of seven companies since 2008 and also acted as a consultant to one of Marken’s clients.  Prior to 2008, Mr. O’Donnell was a Managing Director of LGV Capital, a private equity firm, where he worked for more than a decade. He started his career at Morgan Grenfell where he worked for five years after graduating from University College, Dublin with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. 

“We are delighted to welcome Tim and Michael to Marken’s Board of Directors,” said Wes Wheeler, Marken’s Chief Executive Officer.  “These two independent Directors will certainly provide us with an appropriate balance of deep industry and financial experience.  They also bring excellent contacts from the pharmaceutical industry and the UK financial markets, respectively, which will allow us to continue our expansion in the life sciences supply chain market.” 

Marken is the leading global clinical supply chain solutions provider dedicated to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, supporting over 49,000 clinical investigators in more than 150 countries. Marken integrates Depot and Logistics services into solutions that extend the reach of clinical trials to even the most remote treatment in naive geographies.

CONTACT: Christine Noble, info@marken.com, +1 919 474 6890, www.marken.com

Dan Bell promoted to lead new unit

 Increased complexity in pharma supply chain highlighted by panel

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, January 30, 2013 – Marken today announced the expansion of its internal regulatory and technical expertise with the promotion of Dan Bell to Vice President.  The announcement follows an industry-led panel discussion hosted by Marken in Farmingdale, New York on January 15th.  The panel was convened to shed light on the growing complexity of clinical supply chain management.  Industry experts shared a wide range of perspectives relating to clinical trials risk, cost, resources and security.

Rafik Bishara, Ph.D., current Chair of the Pharmaceutical Cold Chain Interest Group (PCCIG) within the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) said: “there is a very clear shift in how we should view ‘cold chain’ logistics, especially with the growth of biologically derived drugs and vaccines.  Supplier’s Quality Systems will need to be expanded to include increased tracking for chain of custody assurance, more reliable data monitoring and compliance with changing customs requirements in developing countries. This shift will go far beyond our current understanding and application of Good Distribution Practices”.  The panel was moderated by Pfizer’s Bruce Guenter, who said:  “Our industry will certainly demand more reliable monitoring of data and will need to ensure compliance with the changing regulations.  It is vital to our industry that we continue to coordinate collaborative exchanges like this to ensure that we are ready, prepared, and ahead of the curve”. 

Marken has long been known for its high quality, compliant and reliable service to the pharmaceutical industry.  A new unit has been formed, expanding on Marken’s already strong legacy of compliance, and has promoted Dan Bell to a newly created position of Vice President, Regulatory Compliance and Technical Affairs. Wes Wheeler, Marken’s CEO, said:

Dan Bell, Vice President, Regulatory Compliance and Technical Affairs, Marken

“Dan has been instrumental to Marken’s growth and has developed strong relationships with some of the industry’s most demanding clients.  He is recognized in the industry as a frequently speaker on important issues in cold chain logistics and regulatory challenges.  He is passionate about advancing new techniques, finding solutions and expanding the knowledge base in clinical logistics” Mr. Bell is also a licensed customs broker and a certified customs specialist in the United States.  He will join Marken’s Executive Committee and work with Marken to set objectives for 2013 and beyond.

About Marken

Marken is the leading global clinical supply chain solutions provider dedicated to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, supporting over 49,000 clinical investigators in more than 150 countries. Marken integrates Depot and Logistics services into solutions that extend the reach of clinical trials to even the most remote treatment naive geographies.

CONTACT: Christine Noble, info@marken.com, +1 919 474 6890, www.marken.com

MARKEN OPENS EXPANDED PHARMACEUTICAL DEPOT IN MEXICO CITY

The global depot network is now entering its final phase of development

Research Triangle Park, NC, January 8, 2013. Marken announced today the completion of its new, expanded pharmaceutical depot in Mexico City. The new state of the art facility is located closer to the Mexico City airport and provides a total of 1300 m² of GMP-compliant space for temperature controlled storage and distribution of clinical trial supplies. The recent expansion was a response to the significant client demand Marken is experiencing within that region.

 “We are very pleased to announce the completion of this expansion which is a direct result of an increased demand for our services. In addition, we also enhanced our global project management team with experienced Project Leaders ensuring seamless set-up and coordination of all global clinical trial storage and distribution work. We will continue to push forward in enlarging our network to provide the most efficient and flexible solutions to our clients” said Gerit Offenhauser, Senior Vice President, Clinical Trials Distribution.

Marken’s depots provide secure temperature controlled storage and distribution for pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices and diagnostic equipment. The new depot will supplement Marken’s existing network of global depots in Germany, Singapore, USA and Argentina.  Marken’s depot network is connected through the Solo platform, a global state-of-the-art, 21 CFR part 11 validated, cloud based inventory management system which tracks dosages at the patient level.

Wes Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer, Marken

Wes Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer of Marken said “Today’s completion of our new Mexico depot is another important milestone in our global depot network expansion strategy. Through further continued investment in facilities and technologies, we will continue to ensure that our clients are served with full service, global clinical supply chain solutions and that we provide the highest quality courier and logistics services to our clients.”

Marken is the leading global clinical supply chain solutions provider dedicated to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, supporting over 49,000 clinical investigators in more than 150 countries. Marken integrates Depot and Logistics services into solutions that extend the reach of clinical trials to even the most remote treatment in naive geographies.

CONTACT: Christine Noble, info@marken.com, +1 919 474 6890, www.marken.com

MARKEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES FINANCIAL RESTRUCTURING

New Structure Creates Sound Platform for Investment and Growth

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, December 21, 2012 — Marken, the global provider of specialist logistics to the pharmaceutical industry, is pleased to announce that it has completed a financial restructuring of the business, effective today, creating a sound platform for further growth and development.

As a result of the restructuring, some of the existing stakeholders have become 100% shareholders of Marken’s new Group holding company. The business will benefit from improved terms on its existing debt facilities which will facilitate further growth.  Marken is looking forward to continuing with its current strategy to expand its range of services and geographic footprint which are both enabled by the completion of its global depot network.  The new shareholders are all fully supportive of the strategic plan put in place by the Group’s management team.

Wes Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer, Marken

Wes Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer of Marken, said, “We are delighted to have reached this agreement which means that Marken can capitalize on its excellent position in a niche marketplace which will allow us to grow in step with our client’s needs. We have a clear plan for the future which will deliver significant growth for this business, both organically and through new investment. With this new agreement, we now have the right capital structure to be able to deliver that plan. We appreciate the support of our lenders, all of whom are committed to supporting the continuing development of the business. I would like to thank all our customers and suppliers for their continued support throughout this process.”  

About Marken

Marken is the leading global clinical supply chain service provider dedicated 100% to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, supporting over 49,000 investigator sites in more than 150 countries. With decades of experience in the logistics, transport and distribution of temperature sensitive life saving pharmaceuticals, clinical trial supplies and specimen collection; Marken integrates depot and logistics services into solutions that extend the reach of clinical trials to even the most remote treatment naïve geographies. Our team members and network of facilities bridge the distance between patients and the essential resources of life science companies.

CONTACT: Christine Noble, info@marken.com, +1 919 474 6890, www.marken.com

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, December 19, 2012 — Marken is hosting an open house in January for their new GMP-compliant depot located in Farmingdale, New York.  During the grand opening celebration and depot tour, Marken will also facilitate a round table to address key issues related to clinical supply chain management.  Industry experts will share a holistic view on ways to find the optimum path between risk, cost, resource and management.

The event will be held on January 15^th and will be joined by industry-leading experts. The industry-led round table will bring focus to the complex topic of cost versus regulation: how best can pharmaceutical companies balance the mounting cost saving pressures within their organizations while being mindful of the increasing regulatory scrutiny and supply chain complexity of the industry?  A panel of experts will share their experiences and real examples of how an efficient supply chain management plan can be critical and will continue to grow as one of the key elements in today’s most successful organizations in the pharma industry.

Bruce Guenter, Director Global Clinical Supplies, Pfizer

Bill Wyrovsky, Associate Director Regional Logistics, Bristol-Myers Squibb

Dr. Michael N. Eakins, Principal Consultant, Eakins & Associates

Chuck Forsaith, Director, Supply Chain Security, Purdue Pharma

Technologies Inc. & Chairman, Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition

Rafik Bishara, Ph.D., is the current Chair of the Pharmaceutical Cold Chain

Interest Group (PCCIG) within the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA)

Marken’s latest depot opening is part of a global phased plan to strategically build depots in key locations around the world. Frankfurt, Germany opened in October 2012, joining existing operational depots in Singapore, Mexico and Argentina.  Further supplemented by its own 3^rd party depot network, Farmingdale now completes Phase I of the global Marken depot network plan. This network has been built based on an extensive analysis of client needs as well as geographical needs, allowing large Phase III clinical trials to be conducted in a cost efficient and optimized manner.

Space is limited. Interested in attending?  Please respond to: RSVP.depot@marken.com by January 2nd.

About Marken

Marken is the leading global clinical supply chain solutions provider dedicated to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, supporting over 49,000 clinical investigators in more than 150 countries. Marken integrates Depot and Logistics services into solutions that extend the reach of clinical trials to even the most remote treatment naive geographies.

CONTACT: Christine Noble, info@marken.com, +1 919 474 6890, www.marken.com

FARMINGDALE DEPOT OPEN HOUSE

You are invited to a Behind-the-Scenes tour of the brand new Marken depot in Long Island, New York!

Total Supply Chain Management – Harmonizing & Sharing Best Practices

• Collaborating on the big pieces of the supply chain
• How to manage risk in your supplier’s supplier
• Supply Chain Integrity – Establishing and maintaining safe and secure supply chains

Join special guests:

Bruce Guenter, Director Global Clinical Supplies, Pfizer

Bill Wyrovsky, Associate Director Regional Logistics, Bristol Myers Squibb

Dr. Michael N. Eakins, Vice-Chair of the USP Packaging Storage and

Distribution Expert Committee

Chuck Forsaith, Director, Supply Chain Security, Purdue Pharma

Technologies Inc. & Chairman, Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition

Rafik Bishara, Ph.D., is the current Chair of the Pharmaceutical Cold Chain

Interest Group (PCCIG) within the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA)

Monday, January 14

Arrive for complimentary accommodations at the Melville Marriott Long Island

1350 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747 | Tel no. 1-631-423-1600

7:00 pm Be our guest for dinner. Please meet in Marriott lobby at 7 pm.

Taste 99, Carlyle On The Green, Bethpage State Park

(Site of the 2002 & 2009 US Golf Open)

Tuesday, January 15

8 am Continental breakfast in Marriott hotel meeting room

8:45-Noon Roundtable discussions

Noon Buffet lunch

1:30 Board bus to Marken Farmingdale depot for depot tour

3:30 Bus transportation from depot back to hotel

Space is limited! Please respond to:

RSVP.depot@marken.com