Merck KGaA To Invest $108 M in New Viral Vector Mfg Facility

Merck KGaA has announced plans to invest EUR 100-million ($108-million) for a second commercial viral vector and gene-therapy manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California for the CDMO service offerings of its life-science business. The new facility is expected to open next year (2021).

Merck KGaA gained the first and current Carlsbad site through its $17-billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich in 2015, which included Sigma Aldrich’s custom manufacturing business, SAFC, including the viral product manufacturing facility in Carlsbad.

The new, 140,000-square-foot manufacturing facility will support viral and gene therapy production at the 1,000-liter scale. The Carlsbad site now has 16 modular viral bulk manufacturing cleanroom suites with single-use equipment and two fill–finish suites for gene therapy, viral vaccine, and immunotherapy products. The expansion will add 11 suites, bringing the total to 27, used in various steps of manufacturing.

In addition to CDMO services for viral vectors, the company’s life-science business also provides manufacturing and testing services at its pharma and biopharma testing sites.

Source: Merck KGaA

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