Merck Announces Opening of New € 29 Million Biologics Testing Center in Shanghai

News Release

• First-of-its-kind facility for company in China to meet local demand
• New lab marks completion of phase 1 of company’s new Biologics Testing Center
• Phase 2 to include expansion of cell line characterization and lot release testing services

Burlington, Massachusetts, September 21, 2022 – MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, today announced the opening of a viral clearance (VC) laboratory as part of the first building phase of its new € 29 million China Biologics Testing Center. The 53,000 square foot center is the first of its kind for the company in China. The VC laboratory allows customers to locally conduct viral clearance studies from pre-clinical development to commercialization and will meet the double-digit demand for VC testing services in China.¹ The VC laboratory will add around 120 jobs by 2023.

“The opening of this viral clearance lab signifies a new chapter in our partnership with our Chinese clients who are at the forefront of reshaping modern medicine,” said Dirk Lange, Head of Life Science Services, Life Science business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “This lab and future labs will provide our Chinese customers with critical local services backed by our 75 years of global experience in the testing market.”

The first phase of the center adds laboratory capacity for viral clearance studies, one of the most critical steps in development. These studies are key to supporting the Investigational New Drug (IND) and Biologics License Application (BLA) filing milestones, which are required by regulatory agencies around the world to complete clinical trials and move to commercial manufacturing. The second phase of the center’s facilities will open in late 2023 and will offer cell line characterization and lot release testing services. The facility in Shanghai joins the company’s global viral clearance suites network in Singapore; Stirling, UK; and Rockville, MD, U.S.A., and shares the same global expertise, standards, and operating systems.

“This opening signifies another major investment milestone in our strategic journey in China, and to our commitment to building a robust presence within the country for our Chinese clients and partners,” said Marc Jaffre, Managing Director, China, Life Science business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “With the strong growth expected over the next decade, we look forward to hiring more aspirational local talent to meet that demand.”

The BioReliance^® testing services portfolio is known for leading innovation to ensure the safety and quality of the biopharma industry’s supply chain. As a leader in the biosafety testing industry, the company has performed more than 17,300 studies for more than 500 clients globally.

¹Based on Merck’s industry expertise and internal market modeling.