UPS has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Marken, a global provider of supply chain solutions to the life sciences industry. The transaction, which provides UPS with growth opportunities across the life sciences customer base, is expected to close by Dec. 31, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Clinical trials require strict regulatory compliance, streamlined logistics services and global reach. Marken operates a global network of clinical supply chain services to meet the increasingly complex demands of its clients. This new acquisition follows multiple UPS acquisitions that have expanded the company’s healthcare logistics services portfolio.

Pharmaceutical companies, clinical research organizations and contract manufacturers rely on Marken for collection and transportation of clinical trial material and investigational medicinal products to nearly 49,000 clinical trial sites, as well as the shipment of biological samples from these sites to central laboratories. These shipments are time- and temperature-sensitive, and their rapid, on-spec delivery is a key factor in the treatment of patients and the success of the clinical trial.

UPS offers a broad array of specialized services for healthcare and life science companies. In July, UPS announced expanded logistics capabilities for clinical trials. The company’s network includes temperature-sensitive storage and transportation (from ambient and controlled-room temperature, to frozen and cryogenics), 24-hour monitoring and security.