Oxford Nanopore Technologies announced an extension of its collaboration with UPS Healthcare to accelerate the delivery of Oxford Nanopore DNA/RNA sequencing products and consumables across the Asia Pacific region. The deal will strengthen Oxford Nanopore’s portable, real-time DNA sequencing devices’ supply chain throughout Asia’s main markets.
UPS Healthcare offers unparalleled healthcare logistics expertise to scientific communities with more than 17 million sq ft of cGMP and GDP-compliant healthcare distribution space globally. This is Oxford Nanopore’s second region served by UPS Healthcare, following a fulfilment agreement in 2022 that serves the US and Canada. Plans to expand the deal to other regions globally including Australia are expected to be announced in 2023.
What does the partnership mean for customers?
By tapping on UPS Healthcare’s specialised healthcare logistics solutions, Oxford Nanopore’s customers will enjoy faster delivery with less complexity, removing many customer pain points and leaving more time to pursue high-impact, time-sensitive genomics research and discovery in areas such as human disease, cancer, and agriculture.
Oxford Nanopore’s flow cells will be stored in UPS Healthcare’s temperature-controlled distribution facility in Singapore for the first time and be delivered within 24- to 48- hours through UPS’s cold chain distribution capabilities to destinations across the Asia Pacific.
Oxford Nanopore will tap on UPS® Premier’s premium tracking, prioritization, and recovery service for its time- and temperature-sensitive shipments. The goal is same-day despatch and fast delivery of flow cells—the cartridges that contain the tech and chemistry needed for nanopore-based sequencing and are run in conjunction with the company’s product line.
What does this mean for Nanopore Technologies?
Gordon Sanghera, CEO, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, commented: “We are proud to announce our expanded partnership with UPS Healthcare, which we expect to create an improved experience for our growing customer base throughout Asia Pacific. UPS’s mature infrastructure and reach globally has already improved our capacity in the US and will now allow us to increase our reach across the region without sacrificing speed or service.”
“Through this collaboration, we are hopeful that our clients will be able to receive orders more quickly and with reduced complexity, leaving more time for the ground-breaking research critical to advancing improvements in human health, food and environments.”
Oxford Nanopore’s investment in APAC highlights sustained commitment to serving its growing client base in the region, with multiple genomics-led research projects flourishing across regional countries. These include; pathogen surveillance, translational cancer research and agricultural sequencing, most notably to protect shrimp farming in Malaysia.
What does this mean for UPS Healthcare?
“At UPS we are focused on providing healthcare logistics capabilities and services that enable clients to deliver top innovations with flexibility, transparency and reliability,” said Ianne Loh, Senior Director for UPS Healthcare in APAC, Middle East and Africa.
“We’re excited to build on our trusted partnership with Oxford Nanopore Technologies to deliver its next-generation DNA sequencing technology to their customers in Asia Pacific, as the demand for such innovations open up possibilities for new applications and scientific research that can have a positive impact to the world,” Ianne Loh further commented.
Following the partnership, Oxford Nanopore and UPS Healthcare will be creating a video to highlight critical genomics research projects throughout Asia Pacific. We invite all current and prospective Oxford Nanopore customers in Asia Pacific countries to submit a summary of the research you are pursuing or hoping to pursue using Oxford Nanopore products.
If selected, your story will be shared across UPS channels. For more on requirements, including countries eligible, and to submit your research, please visit the website.
