Merck Partners with Pharmaron to Accelerate ADC Market Development in China
Merck Group
Pharmaceutical R&D Developer
In today's biopharmaceutical field filled with challenges and opportunities, on the global stage of pharmaceutical innovation, China is rapidly emerging. The biopharmaceutical market in China is thriving, accompanied by a growing demand for high-quality treatment solutions. Various sectors are actively pursuing innovative collaboration opportunities to accelerate more efficient drug research, development, and production.
On October 10, at the 2023 Merck China Drug Innovation Summit, Merck Life Science Process Solutions, a global leader in process solutions, reached an exciting strategic cooperation with Shanghai Porton Zhihui Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Porton"), a subsidiary of Porton Pharma Solutions, a leading pharmaceutical CDMO listed company in China that focuses on large-molecule biologics CDMO.Merck and Porton Advance Together, Committed to Developing Next-Generation Integrated ADC Platform Technology.
From left to right: Dr. Fu Yu, Deputy Director of Project Management of the Large Molecule Business Unit at Porton; Dr. Qiu Bo, Chief Technology Officer of the Large Molecule Business Unit at Porton; Mr. Wang Bin, Director of Technical and Scientific Solutions for Bioprocessing China at Merck Life Science; and Mr. Miao Ruoli, Director of Customer Technical Applications for Bioprocessing China at Merck Life Science.
ADC——The Next "Golden" Track
Since the first ADC drug — Pfizer's Mylotarg®Since (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) received FDA approval in 2000, the global ADC drug market has entered a phase of rapid growth. To date, 15 ADC drugs have been approved for marketing. In 2022, global ADC drug sales exceeded $7 billion, and in the first half of this year, that figure has approached $5 billion, with expectations to surpass the $10 billion mark for the full year. Behind this booming market lies the pharmaceutical industry's recognition of ADC therapeutics, supported by robust R&D and a strong product pipeline. According to incomplete statistics, there are currently over 600 ADC drugs in development globally, with China contributing more than one-third. The ADC drug sector is now regarded as the next "golden" field following PD-1 antibodies.
However, despite the fact that ADCs have gained significant attention as a revolutionary cancer treatment, their research, development, and production have been constrained by technical difficulties and high costs. For this reason, the collaboration between Merck and Porton appears particularly important.
Through continuous innovation and investment in R&D, Merck has driven technological advancements in the pharmaceuticals and biomanufacturing fields. Its global R&D and production network enables it to deliver high-quality products and solutions to meet the needs of different markets. Amid the current ADC boom, with its global perspective and technical leadership, Merck is poised to continue providing innovative and leading solutions in the ADC field, promoting progress in cancer treatment. Its deep engagement in the Chinese market and partnerships will also make greater contributions to the development of China's pharmaceuticals industry.
Merck Joins Hands with Porton to Break Through Technical Barriers with Innovation,
Enhance ADC Process Platform
Porton Built a Large Molecule Center Process Laboratory and Pilot Production Workshop in Waigaoqiao, Shanghai, Covering a Total Area of Nearly 7,000 Square Meters. The center was constructed according to international quality standards. In September this year, the process laboratory was put into use first. It is expected to have the capability for antibody and ADC process development as well as GMP pilot production by the end of 2023, providing global customers with a one-stop large molecule drug service platform.
At the 2023 Merck KGaA China Drug Innovation Summit,
Dr. Qiu Bo, Chief Technology Officer of Porton Large Molecule Business Unit, said：
We are delighted to have reached a strategic cooperation with Merck. Together, we will continuously pursue technological innovation in the research and production of antibodies and ADC (antibody-drug conjugates), with a particular focus on exploring the development and application of single-use product technologies and closed continuous flow production technologies in the ADC field as key points of our strategic collaboration. We hope to engage in various forms of strategic partnerships within the antibody and ADC sectors, empowering the pharmaceutical industry in China to enhance its global competitiveness and assisting more pharmaceutical R&D companies in succeeding internationally!
Dr. Qiu Bo, Chief Technology Officer of BoTech Large Molecule Division
Merck Life Science Bioprocessing China Technical and Scientific SolutionsMr. Wang Bin, the director, said in fluent English that he was full of confidence in this cooperation:
This strategic cooperation with Porton will unfold at the technical level, covering upstream cell lines, culture media, perfusion process development, downstream chromatography, ultrafiltration, virus removal, ADC conjugation reaction process development and process simulation collaboration, as well as cost analysis of the ADC process platform.
We will fully leverage Merck's advantages in ADC single-use platform technology, continuous flow process technology, and comprehensive process solutions. By complementing each other's strengths, we will actively promote the rapid development of Porton's ADC production process with cutting-edge technology, stable quality, and profound experience accumulation. Ultimately, this will help Porton achieve the excellent vision of strengthening closed production processes, reducing costs and increasing efficiency, and accelerating the launch of projects both in China and internationally. Our Merck M Lab, located in Shanghai, is the largest life science technology and training collaboration center in China.TMThe Collaboration Center will also inject strong momentum into this cooperation with a highly globalized technical team.
Merck Life Science Bioprocessing China Technical and Scientific Solutions
Mr. Wang Bin, Director
Merck Life Science Bioprocessing China Customer Technical Application
Mr. Miao Ruoli, Director, stated:
We have been committed to becoming the preferred partner in China's life sciences field. Today, we are delighted to join hands with Porton in the ADC field, bringing innovative and leading solutions to the industry, promoting advancements in the field of cancer treatment, and delivering therapeutic hope to patients in China and even globally.
Merck launched a new production line for a single-use technology product manufacturing base in Wuxi in November 2021, which was the first such base in Asia. In April 2022, we announced continued investment to expand the Wuxi single-use technology product base and establish the Asia-Pacific Mobius.®Single-Use Technology Product Technical Center. This time, our Wuxi Mobius®The Single-Use Technology Product Technical Center will also serve as a strong backup, providing Porton with localized, efficient, flexible, and robust products.
He added, "This year marks the 90th anniversary of Merck's presence in China. Despite a challenging and uncertain environment, Merck's commitment to China remains unchanged. We will stay true to our original aspiration and continue to adhere to the strategy of 'In China, With China,' furthering our development in China, better serving Chinese customers, and becoming closer to our partners. Together, we will continue to lead the way in life sciences and health with science!"
Merck Life Science Bioprocessing China Customer Technical Applications
Mr. Miao Ruoli, Director
With advanced technology,
Drive the ADC market in China and even globally
As a global leading technology company with over 350 years of history, Merck Group is committed to advancing human progress. Through innovative products, high-quality services, and digital solutions, Merck KGaA's life science division provides solutions to enhance the well-being of people worldwide and create a sustainable future for generations to come.
Merck and Porton's Strategic Cooperation Opens New Opportunities, Poised for Breakthroughs in ADC Platform Technology. In the future, we can expect to see more ADC treatment options launched, bringing new hope to cancer patients and jointly promoting the development of China's biopharmaceutical industry! This collaboration will also drive innovation in drug research and production globally, bringing benefits to patients worldwide!
About Merck Process Solutions
Merck Process Solutions provides comprehensive support to biopharmaceutical customers with reliable products, extensive biopharmaceutical process expertise, and excellent regulatory support to address various process challenges.
