From Inbound Logistics, by Felecia Stratton

DHL Express has launched DHL Medical Express Service (WMX) between Brazil and the United States for pharmaceutical and clinical research sector shippers.

DHL Express has launched DHL Medical Express Service (WMX) between Brazil and the United States for pharmaceutical and clinical research sector shippers. The transportation solution, piloted in Brazil, addresses increased demand for faster and more predictable lead times, given the regulatory complexities that can delay exports.

The service ultimately impacts clinical trial patients, as temperature-sensitive biological products and new patient-specific treatments will be in the right hands exactly when needed.

With its medical express service, DHL Express can manage the export and regulatory requirements for urgent shipments with specific temperature needs from several major cities in Brazil to most U.S. destinations in 24 to 48 hours. DHL has upgraded and validated its WMX service points in Brazil to meet several Brazilian federal, state, and city regulations around Ministry of Health and Sanitary controls and licensing requirements.

The successful implementation of the DHL WMX clinical trial platform at DHL Express Brazil includes a dedicated customer service center with bilingual staff and an onboarding team to support investigator sites. The WMX service includes dry ice supplies and temperature-controlled packaging fulfillment, online tools for placing bookings and ordering supplies, and a web-based interface—Express Logistics Platform (ELP)—that connects sites. The DHL customer service team and all the operational back office systems reside within the DHL operation and are also integrated into ELP.

Qualified customers receive a choice of temperature options—ambient, chilled, or frozen—through specialized thermal packaging. Pre-determined contingencies circumvent delays, and DHL quality control centers monitor the shipments 24/7.

The service is capable of transporting laboratory kits and medical devices, biological samples (blood, saliva, urine, tissues), research products, vaccines, drugs for commercial and non-commercial use, and medical devices.