Marken has opened a new depot and logistics operation in Argentina to expand its capabilities in the region. The new depot facility will be co-located with a new logistics office in Buenos Aires. The depot will increase Marken’s drug storage and distribution capacity to serve its clients in the region. The depot’s logistics operations are GMP and GDP-compliant. The depot will also have a full range of temperature storage capacities and validated capabilities for late stage customization of drug product.

The new facility is located in the Tortuguitas Province, approximately 40 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires. It is adjacent to major highways, which allows easy access to international and domestic airports as well as local clinical investigator sites.

State of the art IT technology will enable the new office and depot to operate within Marken’s worldwide network of 43 locations. Drug shipments will be monitored by Sentry, a real time GPS tracking system, which is connected to the Maestro operating system. The depot’s inventory is tracked in Solo, a GMP-compliant, cloud-based system, which provides continuous access to Marken’s clients.

According to the company, Argentina is the fourth-largest pharmaceutical market in the world behind the U.S., China, and Japan and is home to over 130 biotechnology companies. Argentina is considered a favorable source for cost-effective clinical trials within Latin America, and was one of the first Latin American countries to implement the recommendations of the WHO Good Manufacturing Practices and Control standards, which endorses compliance to an international set of quality standards for pharmaceutical production.

“We are proud that after just three years of establishing our first depot in Argentina, we are now in need of larger space and greater capabilities in order to meet the growing demand of our clients in Argentina and Latin America,” said Wes Wheeler, chief executive officer, Marken. “Having a larger presence in Buenos Aires will ensure that Marken has the expanded capacity to grow with our clients and provide full service, global clinical supply chain solutions.”

The depot is in the final phases of commissioning and an opening event is scheduled on November 15-16, in Buenos Aires.