Marken Acquires Japanese Logistics Firm PCX International to Expand Clinical Supply Chain Presence in Japan

Today (August 2), VCBeat (WeChat ID: vcbeat) learned from foreign media reports that Marken, a U.S.-based pharmaceutical logistics company, has announced the acquisition of PCX International Co., Ltd. in Japan. Headquartered in Tokyo, PCX coordinates the shipment of more than 3,000 batches of clinical trial drugs each month. This acquisition strengthens Marken’s existing supply chain coverage in Japan and will enhance its capacity for domestic and international clinical transportation.

Marken is the only patient-centric supply chain organization. Founded in 1980, it is dedicated to serving the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Marken is a wholly owned subsidiary of UPS (United Parcel Service), a global leader in the logistics industry that offers a diverse range of shipping solutions, including package and freight transportation, facilitation of international trade, and enhanced business management efficiency through the deployment of advanced technologies. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.

UPS’s acquisition of Marken in 2016 underscored its commitment to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Currently, Marken maintains a leading position in direct-to-patient services and biological sample logistics, operating a state-of-the-art, GMP-compliant warehouse network and logistics centers across 44 locations worldwide.

PCX, established in 2008, is a specialized courier service provider in Japan’s clinical trial industry. Owing to its high-quality services, robust local vendor network, and strong relationships with airlines, the company has built a solid reputation within the industry since its inception. PCX manages a team of over 200 well-trained delivery drivers in Japan, providing collection and delivery services for Marken’s existing clients in the country. The merger of PCX and Marken Japan KK will further enhance operational flexibility, reduce costs, and optimize processes.

Marken CEO Wes Wheeler stated, “The acquisition of PCX enables Marken to directly manage a team of 200 specialized drivers and other partners in Japan. The integration of this new network addresses our growing need for expanded physical infrastructure in Japan and provides a broader service platform for the local clinical customer base. We look forward to welcoming the PCX team into the Marken family and engaging with our clients to discuss their clinical supply chain needs.”

About Marken

Marken’s 650 employees manage 50,000 pharmaceutical and biological shipments across all temperature ranges in more than 150 countries each month. In addition, the company provides services such as bio-kit production, sourcing of ancillary materials, storage and distribution, qualification of shipping lanes, and GDP regulatory and compliance consulting, all of which underpin Marken’s unique position in the pharmaceutical and logistics industries.

About PCX

PCX is a specialized courier service provider in Japan’s clinical trial industry, managing over 200 trained delivery drivers locally to provide delivery services to nine healthcare institutions.

(Compiled by Xu Wenjuan)