PR84680

DARMSTADT, Germany, July 10, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-- Focus on improving and optimizing drug discovery, development and

manufacturing

-- Integrated lab with customizable solutions, validation services, training

and hands-on applications

-- Shanghai center is newest and largest addition to Merck's global network of

nine M Lab(TM) Collaboration Centers

Merck, a leading science and technology company, opened its M Lab(TM)

Collaboration Center in Shanghai, the company's largest of nine centers

worldwide.

Photo -

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1200596/MilliporeSigma_M_Lab_Shanghai.jpg

"With the booming pharmaceutical industry in Asia and greater emphasis on novel

drug therapies, we see an increase in R&D on leading-edge treatments including

cell and gene therapies in China," said Udit Batra, member of the Merck

Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. "Our M Lab(TM) Collaboration Center

offers customizable solutions and services that help bio pharmaceutical and

biologics companies improve their processes from drug discovery, development to

manufacturing — saving costs and increasing speed to market."

With a total lab size of approximately 10,000m2, Merck's newest M Lab(TM)

Collaboration Center is located in Pudong, at the heart of the biomedical

sciences and research community in Shanghai.

The new M Lab(TM) Collaboration Center in Shanghai offers customizable

solutions tailored for China's Life Science community to help advance drug

development. It includes Pilot Scale and Process Development support labs that

offer non-GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) lab space where pharmaceutical and

biopharmaceutical manufacturers can explore ideas, learn innovative techniques

and work side-by-side with the company's scientists and engineers to solve

critical process development and production challenges. Customers can

participate in product demonstrations, hands-on training, formal bioprocessing

educational courses and experiments, as well as apply best practices and new

approaches to develop, optimize and scale-up processes and simplify global

technology transfer.

Customers will also be able to tap into the following Merck offerings:

- Lab Management Software: This digital platform helps scientists improve

efficiency and processes by automating workflows and connecting lab instruments

via the cloud. The software centralizes research information, allowing

researchers to move away from transferring and documenting data by hand,

increasing productivity and helping them to avoid costly errors.

- Customized Cell Culture Media facility: This facility develops cell culture

media, which are used in the production of biopharmaceuticals and will be used

for non-GMP pilot production.

- Solid Dose Formulation facility: This facility helps ensure drugs in

tablet/capsule/powder form contain high quality excipients and active

pharmaceutical ingredients. This facility will support customers in China and

around the world.

Additionally, the center will host a new BioReliance(R) End-to-End Solutions

GMP manufacturing facility offering contract development manufacturing

organization services to customers in China and Asia-Pacific.

As a leading innovator in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry,

Merck is committed to playing an active role in China's transformation into an

innovation- driven economy. Through this new center, Merck will collaborate

with local and regional customers to increase drug quality and safety and

provide training and knowledge transfer.

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About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare,

life science and performance materials. Around 56,000 employees work to make a

positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more

joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies

and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling

the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2019, Merck

generated sales of €16.2 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to

Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived

since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of

the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name

and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the

business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma

in life science and EMD Performance Materials.

Source - Merck

CONTACT: Gangolf.schrimpf@merckgroup.com Phone: +49 6151 72-9591