World Courier Pharmaceutical Products Distribution, GxP-Compliant Supply Chain

Since 1969, WORLD COURIER has delivered innovative specialty courier services to the world's most demanding companies and industries. Over the years, the company has continuously raised the bar for delivering customized transportation solutions, cold chain capabilities and logistical services to clinical science and research professionals in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.

GxP-Compliant Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Subsequent to an intense review of international GxP (Good Practice) and Quality Management guidelines in 2009, World Courier has successfully formalized its network-wide status as a global GxP-compliant pharmaceutical supply chain and transportation provider.

Each of World Courier's 150 company-owned offices in over 50 countries is ISO 9001-certified and IATA-approved to handle dangerous goods including infectious samples and dry ice. World Courier also operates 13 GMP-compliant investigational storage depots in strategic and emerging countries, ensuring full GxP compliance for clinical trial materials anywhere within the pharmaceutical supply chain.

In 2012, WORLD COURIER was acquired by AmerisourceBergen Corporation, one of the world's largest pharmaceutical services companies. Serving the U.S., Canada and selected global markets, AmerisourceBergen provides a suite of value-added services that focus exclusively on enhancing the effectiveness of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Global Clinical Supply

World Courier brings great expertise to the clinical trial process, having managed the logistics for thousands of research studies worldwide. Its trained staff works one-on-one with pharmaceutical partners, sponsors, CROs, investigators, researchers and site personnel − in their own language and time zone − to deliver personalized clinical trial logistics and transport.

Core service offerings include:

• 24-hour collection and delivery of biological specimens (including infectious samples), investigational drugs, kits and other study materials and supplies
• expertise/assistance with all permit applications including import permits, Ministry of Health authorizations, etc.
• customs clearance (including pre-clearance whenever possible) to ensure the fastest possible delivery to more than 220 countries and territories for global clinical supply
• cold chain services including temperature-controlled packaging, supplies and expertise
• clinical trial logistical support using World Courier's proprietary management software tool, Bio-STAR^SM

Drug Supply Chain Management

For customers participating in global studies, World Courier operates company-owned storage facilities for clinical trial materials in 13 key markets in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, México, Perú), Europe (Russia), Africa (South Africa) and Asia Pacific (Australia, China, India, Japan, Singapore).

Each facility hosts separate validated storage capabilities for clinical trial drugs and supplies in temperature-controlled environments which range from +25ºC to -70ºC. Each depot is staffed by full-time pharmacists and quality assurance personnel, is ISO 9001 certified, and complies to current GMP standards. Inventories can be accessed by clients at any time through live Internet feed, and are assured by permanent 24-hour security and redundant temperature control management systems.

Other depot services include drug return management and complete logistics chain management.

Pharmaceutical Product Distribution

By using World Courier's local climate-controlled storage depots as the hub for in-country pharmaceutical product distribution, customers can significantly shorten lead times, limit customs delays and reduce overall transport costs without having to give up control of their inventory.

Based on customer instructions, World Courier will manage both bulk imports of investigational drugs/materials into the depot as well as same day/following day delivery from the depot to investigator sites within the country.

Inbound customs clearance, door-to-door hand delivery to designated site personnel, immediate proof of delivery, and full monitoring and tracking capabilities are all handled locally by experienced World Courier employees.

Dangerous Goods Shipping & Training

Pharmaceutical shipments demand special handling. At World Courier we have the expertise and the experience to deal with any special requirements.

We have a team of qualified IATA-certified Dangerous Goods (DG) specialists on the ground in every major city to assist with packaging, labeling, handling or documentation, and deliver one- and two-day client DG courses on Class 6.2 (infectious substances) and Class 9 (dry ice) consignments on-site or online. Customers may also benefit from cold chain awareness programs in certain markets.