The Medical Research Network Announces Strategic Partnership with World Courier to Develop Global, Patient-centric Health Solutions

The Medical Research Network (MRN) has entered into a strategic partnership with World Courier to create a more highly integrated model for community-based clinical trials that increases patient recruitment and retention, using World Courier to ensure the integrity of trial products all the way to the point of patient administration.

The new model combines the MRN’s expertise as an innovator in at-home clinical trials with World Courier’s scale as the global leader in specialty logistics. It also provides access to the resources of World Courier’s parent company AmerisourceBergen-including MyCubixx (an RFID-enabled product storage system), as well as specialty pharmaceutical dispensing in select global markets.

When implemented completely, the MRN model creates a fully turnkey offering for direct-to-patient clinical trials. Through MRN, World Courier and its sister companies will manage an integrated supply chain that improves quality and accountability in the transportation, dispensing and storage of clinical trial products. At the same time, the MRN, through its broad network of partners will manage trial protocols, administer patient care and collect essential data at patient homes-maximizing patient recruitment and retention in clinical trials and maintaining optimum quality.

Dr. Graham Wylie, CEO of the MRN, said, “With the potential to leverage World Courier’s local presence in more than 50 markets globally, we look forward to expanding our global reach in community-based trials. Longer-term, access to AmerisourceBergen’s suite of solutions will also enhance our pharmacy and nursing services. It’s a great fit for our company, and we truly believe that the trust and dedication to serve among our companies will drive global medicine forward. This partnership philosophy embodies what our customers need in developing global health solutions.”

World Courier’s global network more than 140 offices worldwide operates with a singular set of operating procedures and shared systems for quality and operational excellence. The company considers it an imperative to address industry needs through innovation, a sentiment echoed by company President John Butler.

Said Butler: “Among the largest and costliest obstacles in clinical trials today are recruiting the right patients into trials and preventing them from discontinuing over time. The MRN has already made great strides toward addressing this with Home Trial Support services. With the addition of World Courier and complementary services from AmerisourceBergen, we look forward to providing patients the convenience they have long-needed and providing trial sponsors the value they have long-imagined.”

Established in 2006, the MRN is the world's leading provider of home healthcare for patients in clinical trials. Taking the trial to the patient with Home Trial Support makes participation more convenient and appealing for patients and boosts recruitment rates considerably (from 60% upwards). This ease of participation also significantly improves patient retention, consistently above 95%.