Merck Expands Global CDMO Footprint with New Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility in Carlsbad, California

DARMSTADT, Germany, Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced the opening of its second facility in Carlsbad, California, significantly expanding the company's global CDMO footprint. The new €100 million, 140,000-square-foot facility will more than double the company's existing capacity to support the large-scale commercialization and industrial manufacturing of viral gene therapies, a market expected to grow to $10 billion by 2026.

Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board and CEO of Life Science at Merck, said: "Currently, most gene therapies target rare diseases, but there is an urgent need to manufacture these therapies efficiently to benefit a broader patient population. As a leader in viral vector manufacturing, our expansion in capacity and scale represents the next step in enabling our customers to bring new therapies to market."

This is the company’s second facility in Carlsbad, California, serving clients in the cell and gene therapy sector, which is driven by the industry's rapid adoption of viral vector therapies. Together, the two facilities feature 30 cleanroom suites to support all aspects of the manufacturing process across small- to large-scale clinical and commercial production. The new facility leverages cutting-edge suspension technology to enable scalable and cost-effective manufacturing.

Heinzel added: "We continue to invest in addressing the development and manufacturing challenges of cell and gene therapies, and partner with drug development companies to industrialize, scale up, and accelerate the delivery of treatments to patients."

The establishment of the Carlsbad facility strengthens the company’s ambition to accelerate growth through investment in its “Big Three” businesses, which includes the Life Sciences Process Solutions business unit as a key driver.

As one of the first CDMOs to receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for viral vector manufacturing, Merck has demonstrated its success in commercial execution and global regulatory compliance. With nearly 30 years of experience in cell and gene therapy, Merck provides unique CDMO services as a seasoned single-source supplier.

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