DHL Acquires CRYOPDP to Expand Global Capabilities

By Maria Kalamatas | April 2, 2025 | The Logistic News

In a decisive move reinforcing its ambitions in the life sciences sector, DHL Group has officially acquired 100% of CRYOPDP, a global specialty courier firm known for its logistics expertise in clinical trials, biopharma, and cell & gene therapies. The acquisition, approved by the Brabant Wallon Business Court on March 27, represents a major advance in DHL’s Strategy 2030 roadmap to become the undisputed leader in healthcare logistics.

Operating in over 15 countries and managing more than 600,000 shipments annually, CRYOPDP has long been considered a trusted partner in time-critical and temperature-sensitive transportation. With this acquisition, DHL is significantly reinforcing its Pharma Specialized Network—an integrated global logistics framework that spans air, road, and last-mile delivery solutions specifically tailored for life sciences.

“This is a pivotal move for our supply chain division,” stated Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Supply Chain. “With CRYOPDP’s deep expertise and operational reach, we will enhance our end-to-end capabilities in supporting not just traditional pharmaceutical distribution, but also the emerging demands of advanced therapy logistics.”

The acquisition is further enhanced by a strategic partnership between DHL and Cryoport, Inc., CRYOPDP’s former parent company and a major force in supply chain services for cell and gene therapies. The agreement aims to blend DHL’s extensive global logistics network with Cryoport’s specialized capabilities in temperature-controlled packaging, cryogenic systems, and informatics.

“This partnership leverages the best of both organizations,” said Jerrell Shelton, CEO of Cryoport. “Together, we’re positioned to meet the increasingly complex and global demands of the healthcare industry, especially in rapidly growing regions such as Asia-Pacific and EMEA.”

CRYOPDP’s integration into DHL comes amid surging global demand for temperature-controlled supply chains, driven by advances in personalized medicine, biologics, and decentralized clinical trials. DHL is now uniquely positioned to offer white-glove courier services and synchronized visibility across its platforms—capabilities vital for high-value shipments such as vaccines, clinical samples, and regenerative therapies.

The transaction also secures employment for 186 of CRYOPDP’s personnel, including flight crews, ground staff, and administrative teams, thereby maintaining operational continuity and expertise. Services will continue out of key European pharmaceutical hubs in Brussels and Liège.

For Cryoport, the agreement signals a strategic realignment, allowing it to sharpen its focus on core offerings and extend its market reach with the logistical muscle of DHL behind it. “This gives us the scale and precision to serve our customers better while tapping into DHL’s unmatched infrastructure and digital tools,” Shelton added.

DHL’s Life Sciences and Healthcare division generated over €5 billion in revenue in 2024 and is expected to grow significantly in coming years. The addition of CRYOPDP strengthens its footprint in first-mile and last-mile courier services—two of the most critical links in the specialty pharma supply chain.

As the deal now proceeds through final regulatory clearances, both companies are poised to redefine standards in pharmaceutical logistics. With healthcare supply chains growing more complex, global, and urgent, this acquisition underscores a broader industry shift toward integrated, high-performance logistics networks.

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