Merck Invests €29 Million to Launch Biological Safety Testing Center in Shanghai

ShanghaiSeptember 21, 2022PR Newswire -- Merck, a leading global technology company, today announced the opening of the Viral Clearance Validation Laboratory, part of the first phase of its 29-million-euro investment in China's Biosafety Testing Center. Covering an area of 5,000 square meters, this is Merck's first such experimental facility in China. The laboratory opened in this first phase will enable customers to conduct viral clearance studies locally, from preclinical development to commercialization, meeting the double-digit growth demand for viral clearance validation services in the Chinese market.^[1]This virus clearance validation laboratory will add approximately 120 job opportunities in 2023.

(From left to right) Ju Hong Tao, Head of Biologics Safety Operations China for Merck Life Science’s Biopharma Testing Services; Gang Ling, Chief Engineer of Pudong New Area's Science and Technology and Economy Committee; Marc Jaffré, Managing Director of Merck Life Science China; Huang Hong, Deputy Director of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission; Tao Yuan, Party Secretary and Chairman of Zhangjiang Group; and Su Wang, Head of Commercial China for Merck Life Science’s Biopharma Testing Services, jointly unveiled the opening of Merck China's Biosafety Testing Center.

Merck BioReliance® Biologics Safety Testing and Product Characterization Services

Dirk Lange, Global Head of Life Science Services at Merck's Life Science business, stated: "The opening of the viral clearance validation laboratory at this center marks a new chapter in our collaboration with Chinese customers who are redefining the frontiers of modern medicine. This lab, along with subsequent ones to be opened, will provide our Chinese customers with crucial local services, backed by 75 years of extensive experience in the global biopharmaceutical testing market."

The center's Phase I offers virus clearance validation services. Virus clearance validation is one of the most critical steps in drug development, providing essential support for Investigational New Drug (IND) applications and Biologics License Applications (BLA). Regulatory agencies around the world require the completion of IND and BLA processes before clinical trials can be completed and commercial production can commence. The center’s Phase II facilities will open by the end of 2023, offering cell line characterization and batch release testing services. The Shanghai-based virus clearance validation laboratory will become an important part of Merck Group's global virus clearance validation service network. Other centers providing this service are located in Singapore, Sterling in the UK, and Rockville in Maryland, USA, with all centers sharing the same global expertise, standards, and operational systems.

Marc Jaffré, Managing Director of Merck Life Science China, said: "The opening of this laboratory marks another significant strategic investment milestone for us in China, and demonstrates our active efforts to play a more important role for our Chinese customers and partners. With strong growth expected in the next decade, we look forward to attracting more ambitious local talent to jointly meet market demands."

Merck BioReliance^®Biosecurity testing and product identification services are renowned for leading innovation to ensure a safe, stable, and reliable supply chain in the biopharmaceutical industry. As a leader in the biosecurity testing sector, Merck Group has assisted over 500 clients globally in conducting more than 17,300 studies.

^[1]Based on Merck's industry expertise and internal market modeling

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About Merck

Merck is a global leading technology company focusing on three major fields: healthcare, life sciences, and electronic technology. Approximately 58,000 employees worldwide work for Merck, positively impacting the lives of millions by creating more enjoyable and sustainable lifestyles. From advanced gene-editing technologies and discovering unique methods to treat challenging diseases, to enabling smart devices — Merck is everywhere. In 2021, Merck achieved total sales of 19.7 billion euros across 66 countries and regions.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have always been the key to Merck's technological progress and the secret to Merck's vitality since 1668. The Merck family, as the founder of the company, still holds the majority of Merck's shares. We are known as "Merck" globally, except in the United States and Canada. Merck's three major fields: healthcare, life science, and electronic technology are respectively called "EMD Serono," "MilliporeSigma," and "EMD Electronics" in these two countries. Merck has a development history of 89 years in China, with more than 4,500 employees currently, and 20 registered companies in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Wuxi, Suzhou, and Nantong.