Larger World Courier Depot in Buenos Aires Offers Quadrupled Pharma Capacity

Currently undergoing audits, the new Buenos Aires investigational drug storage depot and other facility expansions offer incomparable temperature-controlled infrastructure to global clinical trial customers

World Courier is pleased to announce that its newest Clinical Trial Supply Chain Services (CTSCS) investigational drug storage depot will open in May 2012 in Buenos Aires (Argentina) after having moved to larger purpose-built premises in response to strong customer demand. The ultra-modern 37,000 square foot (3,400 square meter) facility is currently undergoing external audits and customer visits in preparation for its opening early next month.

“Customer demand for clinical trial storage in Argentina and throughout Latin America continues to remain very strong,” says Carlos Jankowski, Global Executive Director for World Courier’s CTSCS Division. “An increasing number of pharmaceutical clients are recognizing the benefits that our local distribution solutions have provided over the past seven years including lower costs, fewer import permits and clearances, shorter lead times and consistent on-time deliveries, all managed by a single supplier within a fully GxP-compliant environment.”

This is World Courier’s third major expansion in Buenos Aires since its first depot opened in 2005 and will quadruple the storage capacity of the former facility.

Other CTSCS Expansions

World Courier has also undertaken other significant expansions throughout its CTSCS network over the past year.

The company’s thirteenth and largest facility opened in Singapore last September and now delivers the most comprehensive ‘one-stop’ ICH- and GxP-compliant transport, storage and distribution services currently available in Asia. The 135,000 square foot (12,500 square meter) storage facility accommodates over 800 clinical trial protocols in a state-of-the-art temperature-secure environment. Strategically situated adjacent to Changi Airport, one of Southeast Asia’s most active aviation hubs, it meets both local and intra-regional distribution needs.

Another of World Courier’s newer CTSCS facilities − a 25,000 square foot (2,300 square meter) facility located in Tokyo (Japan) − is now actively engaged in providing logistics services to the local clinical trial industry, offering customers direct access to the world’s second largest pharmaceutical market.

Company CTSCS facilities in São Paulo (Brazil), Santiago (Chile), Beijing (China), Bogotá (Colombia), Bengaluru (India), México City (México), Lima (Perú), Moscow (Russia) and Johannesburg (South Africa) have all similarly expanded, or are in the process of expanding their physical capabilities to meet increased client demand. All facilities are fully GMP-compliant, are staffed by full-time licensed pharmacists and host separate validated storage for controlled ambient (+15^o C to +25^o C), refrigerated (+2^o C to +8^o C), frozen (-20^o C) and deep frozen (-70^o C) product and materials.

“By bringing together infrastructure, knowledge, expertise and process control into a ‘single-supplier’ distribution model, we are helping researchers shorten their distribution timelines, reduce risk and minimize costs while assuring quality and regulatory compliance in some of the world’s most challenging and distant locations,” says Wayne Heyland, president of the World Courier group of companies. “We remain committed to delivering the solutions our customers need, both now and in the future.”

About World Courier

World Courier is the largest and most experienced specialty logistics provider in the world, operating a company-owned network of 137 ISO 9001-certified offices in 52 countries along with 13 GMP-compliant investigational drug storage facilities in key emerging and strategic locations. With a fully GxP-compliant transport and supply chain system in place network-wide, World Courier meets the most demanding industry and regulatory requirements for managing the time- and temperature-sensitive consignments of regulated and other industries. World Courier services are utilized by over 500 biopharmaceutical companies including each of the top 50 global players as well as by all major contract research organizations, clinical trial suppliers and central labs. On March 6, 2012, AmerisourceBergen announced a definitive agreement to purchase World Courier subject to certain regulatory reviews and other customary closing conditions. For more information, go to http://www.worldcourier.com .

About AmerisourceBergen

AmerisourceBergen is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical services companies serving the United States, Canada and selected global markets. Servicing both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers in the pharmaceutical supply channel, the Company provides drug distribution and related services designed to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes. Service solutions include pharmacy automation, pharmaceutical packaging, reimbursement and pharmaceutical consulting services. With more than $80 billion in annual revenue, AmerisourceBergen is headquartered in Valley Forge, PA, and employs approximately 11,000 people. AmerisourceBergen is ranked #27 on the Fortune 500 list. For more information, go to www.amerisourcebergen.com .

Contact:

World Courier
Noel Foucart, + 32 2 712 50 80
Director, Global Marketing
nfoucart@worldcourier.be
www.worldcourier.com
or
AmerisourceBergen
Barbara Brungess, +1-610-727-7199
Vice President Corporate & Investor Relations
bbrungess@amerisourcebergen.com