Contract Testing Merck Invests 290+ Million Euros in Drug Safety Testing Capacity in USA

Merck has heavily invested in its biosafety testing capacity at Rockville, Maryland, USA and this is claimed to be the largest investment in contract testing in Merck’s history. The move was undertaken in the background of growing demand for these services.

Darmstadt/Germany – Merck invests more than 290 million euros in its biosafety testing capacity at Rockville, Maryland, USA. This will significantly increase the company’s ability to conduct biosafety testing and analytical development services. Biosafety testing and analytical development are critical and fundamental requirements of the drug development and commercialization process to ensure the safety of medicines. Global demand for these services is growing at a double-digit rate.

“Merck is harnessing its broad portfolio of modern technologies and enabling services to help ensure the safety of the world’s medicines. These significant investments in Rockville and other sites across our global network will help us meet growing demand for the robust testing studies that biologics manufacturers depend upon to comply with stringent regulatory guidelines,” said Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck. “This is a prime example of our focus on sustainable growth in areas with strong underlying upwards dynamics.”

“This is the largest investment in contract testing in Merck’s history. Our Rockville campus has a long track record of testing for both traditional and novel therapies. We have been driving innovation in biosafety testing for 75 years and this expansion enables Merck to lead in shaping the future of testing,” said Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Life Science.

The Bioreliance contract testing portfolio from Merck provides best-in-class biosafety testing and analytical development methods for both traditional and novel therapies. The new state-of-the-art, 23,000-square-meter facility at Merck’s Rockville site will house biosafety testing, analytical development, viral clearance suites, and cell bank manufacturing services. Currently, about 600 employees work at the site. Over the next four years, the expansion will create more than 500 new jobs.

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