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New lab marks completion of phase 1 of company’s new Biologics Testing Cente.

Merck, a leading science and technology company, has opened a viral clearance (VC) laboratory as part of the first building phase of its new €29 million China Biologics Testing Center. The 5,000 square meter center is the first of its kind for Merck 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. 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. “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 building phase of the center adds laboratory capacity for viral clearance studies, one of the most critical steps in drug 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 Merck’s global viral clearance suites network with sites in Singapore; Stirling, UK; and Rockville, Maryland, USA, 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 for China, Life Science business sector of Merck. “With the strong growth expected over the next decade, we look forward to hiring more aspirational local talent to meet that demand.”

Merck’s 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, Merck has performed more than 17,300 studies for more than 500 clients globally.

About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. Around 60,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2021, Merck generated sales of € 19.7 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics.

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