World Courier triples clinical trial storage capacity worldwide

20 October 2009

World Courier has opened two purpose-driven investigational drug storage facilities in Melbourne (Australia) and Johannesburg (South Africa).

This brings its network of GMP (good manufacturing practice)-compliant clinical trial depots to a total of 11 worldwide and providing cost-effective logistical access to two continents critical to the global pharmaceutical industry.

“Together these two continents undertake over 15% of current global clinical trials conducted outside North America, representing an annual estimated market of almost US $3 billion and a study frequency almost double that of China and India combined,” says Wayne Heyland, President and CEO of the World Courier group of companies.

“As clinical research represents the most critical, yet expensive phase of drug development, demand for more cost-effective outsourcing options has intensified in recent years, with clients actively soliciting infrastructure support in emerging and strategic nations. Given the relative isolation of both locations — as well as their inherent appeal — our local depots offer a much-needed and highly cost-efficient ‘one-stop’ logistical alternative for bio-pharmaceutical companies with demanding clinical trial storage and distribution needs.”

Staffed by full-time licensed pharmacists, both facilities provide comprehensive logistical solutions for investigational drugs and trial-related materials in temperature-controlled settings ranging from -70ºC to +25ºC. Services include validated storage for drugs, diagnostic kits and medical devices; round-the-clock access to inventories; transport of all investigational drugs and supplies from country of origin to depot; immediate delivery of specified drugs/kits from the depot to in-country locations; drug return/destruction management; and complete supply chain management.

All documentation and materials are fully traceable using CTM-STARSM, World Courier’s proprietary monitoring system which allows customers to view their inventories 24x7 via live password-protected Internet feed.

“Our solutions have proven highly effective in reducing transport costs for pharmaceutical customers,” says Mr. Heyland who also reports a surge in demand which has driven expansion in the company’s existing storage facilities in Beijing (China), Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore, India), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Lima (Perú), México City (México), Santiago (Chile) and São Paulo (Brazil). “With these expansions and our two new locations, we have more than tripled World Courier’s clinical trial storage capacity,” he confirms.