MarathonLS Splits to Sharpen Focus on Life Sciences Services and Supply

BOSTON, MA – January 02, 2026 – In a significant strategic move reflecting a broader industry trend toward specialization, MarathonLS has officially separated into two independent organizations: Marathon LS LLC and Pacer Global LLC. The reorganization, effective January 1, 2026, places both new entities under the private ownership of Marathon Global Holdings, aiming to enhance focus and deliver more specialized value to the life sciences community.

The decision unbundles the company’s two distinct and rapidly expanding business segments. Marathon LS LLC will now concentrate exclusively on field-based laboratory equipment services, while Pacer Global LLC will dedicate its operations to inventory management, consumables distribution, and advanced bioprocessing solutions. This separation marks a pivotal moment for the company and its customers, signaling a deliberate shift from a diversified model to a more targeted, pure-play approach for each segment.

The Strategic Power of Specialization

For years, MarathonLS operated a hybrid model that served the life sciences industry with both equipment services and product distribution. However, as the needs of laboratories and biomanufacturing facilities grew more complex, the leadership team identified an opportunity to unlock greater potential by allowing each segment to operate independently.

This move aligns with a growing trend across the life sciences support sector, where companies are unbundling diverse operations to create more agile, focused, and competitive entities. By dedicating management, capital, and resources to a narrower set of objectives, specialized firms can often achieve deeper technical expertise and respond more swiftly to market demands. The strategy is designed to drive operational efficiency and foster innovation within each distinct market.

"This strategic evolution allows both organizations to better serve their respective markets while maintaining the strong foundation that has supported our growth thus far," said Rob MacDougall, CEO of the parent company, Marathon Global Holdings. "Operating independently enables us to deepen our expertise, strengthen customer support, and invest in solutions that exceed the evolving needs of the life sciences community."

This restructuring is not just about internal efficiency; it is a direct response to a market that increasingly rewards niche expertise over one-size-fits-all solutions. For Marathon Global Holdings, the private equity owner, this carve-out is a classic strategy to maximize the value of its portfolio by creating two streamlined businesses, each positioned for accelerated growth in its specific domain.

A Sharpened Focus on Two Critical Markets

The separation creates two distinct powerhouses, each tailored to a vital segment of the laboratory and bioproduction ecosystem.

Marathon LS LLC will now operate as a dedicated provider of laboratory equipment services. Its portfolio includes preventive and corrective maintenance, calibration, decontamination, and instrument relocation. By focusing solely on this area, the company aims to deliver faster response times and deeper technical support for the complex instrumentation that underpins modern research and diagnostics. This market for laboratory equipment services, valued at over $15 billion annually, is highly competitive, featuring original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Thermo Fisher Scientific and Agilent Technologies, as well as other independent service providers. Marathon LS LLC's competitive edge will hinge on its ability to offer comprehensive, multi-vendor support, positioning itself as a flexible and expert partner for maintaining full-fleet operational uptime.

On the other side of the split, Pacer Global LLC emerges as a focused entity for laboratory products and supply chain solutions. Its core offerings include inventory management, consumables distribution, and, critically, bioprocessing single-use solutions. This positions Pacer directly in some of the fastest-growing segments of the life sciences industry. The market for single-use bioprocessing technologies, for instance, is experiencing explosive growth, with projections showing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 18%. This demand is fueled by the rapid expansion of biologic drug development and the need for flexible, scalable manufacturing solutions that reduce contamination risks. Pacer will compete with major distributors like VWR (Avantor) and bioprocessing giants such as Sartorius and Cytiva. Its success will depend on its ability to ensure supply chain reliability, offer tailored single-use assemblies, and provide sophisticated inventory management systems that help labs run more efficiently.

Implications for Labs and the Broader Ecosystem

For the end-users—the laboratory managers, research scientists, and procurement professionals—this separation promises tangible benefits, though it may also introduce transitional adjustments. The primary advantage is the promise of enhanced service and product delivery. Customers of Marathon LS LLC can expect a service organization with a singular focus on maximizing equipment performance and longevity. This could translate to reduced instrument downtime and more proactive maintenance programs, which are critical for meeting research deadlines and maintaining regulatory compliance.

Meanwhile, customers of Pacer Global LLC are promised greater supply chain resilience and improved inventory visibility. In an era where supply chain disruptions can halt critical research or production, a dedicated partner focused on consumables and single-use systems can be invaluable. Pacer's specialized model is designed to provide more tailored solutions, helping laboratories optimize their stock of essential supplies and navigate the complex requirements of bioprocessing workflows.

Despite the operational independence, the two companies will maintain a close relationship through their shared ownership under Marathon Global Holdings. The press release emphasized an ongoing collaboration and a shared commitment to customer experience, which should help mitigate concerns about service continuity. Customers who previously relied on MarathonLS for both services and products will now interact with two separate entities, requiring adjustments to procurement and communication workflows. However, the long-term strategic intent is that the improved performance of each specialized company will far outweigh any initial administrative hurdles.

The move ultimately reflects the maturation of the life sciences support industry. As research and manufacturing become more sophisticated, the infrastructure that supports them must evolve in tandem. By creating two expert firms, Marathon Global Holdings is betting that a focused approach is the best way to meet the specialized demands of modern science and medicine.