World Courier opens new distribution facility in Melbourne, Australia

World Courier, the global leader in specialty logistics and an AmerisourceBergen company, has opened the doors to its new distribution facility in Melbourne, Australia. This is the first facility in AmerisourceBergen's global network to be purpose-built to support clinical trial logistics and commercial third-party logistics (3PL). In conjunction with World Courier's specialty logistics and transportation offerings, the facility provides a complete portfolio of supply chain solutions for pharmaceutical manufacturer partners.

World Courier's clinical trial customers can now continue working with the company for commercial 3PL after a product has been approved for launch. Meanwhile, global manufacturers looking to commercialize products in Australia can access the same, proven 3PL platform and processes used by ICS, an AmerisourceBergen company and a pioneer in 3PL services for specialty pharmaceuticals.

"Our new Melbourne facility isn't just a custom-built center for World Courier—it's a comprehensive service that we've developed by listening to customer needs and responding with the highest-quality solution," said John Butler, president of World Courier. "We've successfully piloted commercial 3PL in Australia at our previous facility. That experience, together with the collective expertise of AmerisourceBergen, allows us to launch a nationwide offering that's proven from day one."

Using a single, trusted 3PL platform across multiple geographies allows manufacturers to have greater visibility to consolidated reporting and be able to act on product insights more rapidly. At the same time, it opens a host of possibilities to apply best practices in everything from quality and technology infrastructure to integrated commercialization services.

"This is just the latest and most visible example of the growing synergies between AmerisourceBergen's core capabilities and World Courier's global reach," said Doug Cook, president of Global Specialty Logistics at AmerisourceBergen. "It's exactly the vision we had in mind when AmerisourceBergen purchased World Courier in 2012. We're taking World Courier's local market knowledge and specialty logistics expertise and combining it with the supply chain and commercialization experience that AmerisourceBergen is renowned for in North America."

"The result is a new offering that enables operational excellence and patient access in the rapidly expanding Australian healthcare market," said Cook.

Previously, World Courier operated a clinical trial logistics facility in Melbourne. These services, and all corresponding associates, will migrate to the new facility. New supply chain and logistics positions will also be created as a result of the move.