DHL Expands Next-Day Medical Express Service and Clinical Trial Platform

• Expansion in Brazil supports the Biopharma and Clinical Research Sectors
• Leverages U.S. flight from Miami (MIA) to Cincinnati (CVG) Hub to enhance connectivity for centralized labs, achieving a 30-hour turnaround for patient samples
• DHL Express service centers in Brazil now certified for the transportation of biological materials

DHL Express, the world's leading international express services provider, has expanded its next-day delivery capabilities by adding the Brazil-to-USA lane to its enhanced Medical Express (WMX) service. This new connection links South America and Puerto Rico to the United States, specifically benefitting customers in the pharmaceutical and clinical research sectors. This transportation solution effectively mitigates risks for customers navigating complex supply chains, which is crucial for medical research and clinical trials that aim to improve patient testing outcomes.

With its Medical Express service, DHL Express expertly manages the export and regulatory requirements for urgent shipments that necessitate specific temperature controls. This service facilitates the transport of samples from Puerto Rico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Peru to central U.S. destination labs in less than 30 hours from the time of patient draw, which is critical for flow cytometry and other time sensitive assays.

The company’s market-leading network in Brazil has been enhanced through the DHL WMX clinical trial platform, which includes a specialized Customer Service Center staffed with bilingual representatives for investigator sites. The service offers dry ice supply and temperature-controlled packaging fulfillment, online tools for placing bookings and ordering supplies, and a web-based interface called the Express Logistics Platform (ELP) that connects sites. The dedicated Life Sciences customer service team and all operational back-office systems are integrated within DHL operations and into ELP.

“Given the complexities of export processes, tax payments, and ANVISA (Brazil's health regulatory agency) approvals necessary in Brazil, our integrated system allows DHL to initiate export approvals before samples arrive at our facilities,” said Brian Bralynski, Senior Director of Life Sciences and Healthcare, DHL Express Americas. “This enables DHL to extend later collection times for investigator sites, allowing more time to schedule patient visits while still exporting on the day of collection.”

Since the pandemic, connecting South America to the largest U.S. entry point (Miami) has been challenging due to limited commercial flight schedules. However, since 2023, with a DHL-operated aircraft departing Miami to its CVG Hub in the morning instead of the evening, over 65% of ambient patient samples now arrive at central U.S. labs for testing one day sooner. “As clinical trials based in LATAM have been growing exponentially, the daily flight from Miami has enabled a faster, more reliable, and consistent flow of critical patient samples into central U.S. labs,” added Bralynski.

“DHL Medical Express addresses a critical industry need for specialized services in the pharmaceutical and clinical research sectors,” said Andrew Williams, CEO of DHL Express Americas. “It’s a highly effective solution due to our robust international network and deep understanding of the regulatory requirements involved in the import and export of pharmaceuticals, test kits, and diagnostic specimens.”

By sourcing its own transportation network, DHL Express can offer the optimal combination of responsiveness, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Qualified customers for the service receive a choice of temperature options through specialized thermal packaging (ambient, chilled, and frozen), pre-determined contingencies to circumvent delays, and 24/7 proactive shipment monitoring through its Quality Control Centers. The service is capable of transporting laboratory kits, medical devices, biological specimens (blood, saliva, urine, tissues, etc.), research products, drugs for both commercial and non-commercial use, and medical devices.

Today’s announcement follows the recent news that DHL Group is investing €2 billion over the next five years to enhance its logistics capabilities in the Life Sciences & Healthcare (LSH) sector. This investment will strengthen its logistics operations across the Americas, Asia Pacific, and EMEA to meet the evolving needs of the industry.

DHL is the first integrator to enter the Latin American market with a comprehensive service tailored to the specific needs of the clinical research sector, helping deliver consistent patient results. This service represents a new market alternative to traditional premium and specialty carriers that have historically served the Latin American region.

Click here for more information on DHL’s clinical research related solutions.