Merck, a leading science and technology company, has officially opened its new €290 million biosafety testing facility in Rockville, Maryland, USA. This facility is essential for biosafety testing and analytical development, which are crucial for the drug development and commercialization processes for both traditional and innovative modalities. The global demand for these services is increasing at a double-digit rate.
“This expansion marks the largest investment in contract testing in Merck’s history, enabling us to enhance automation and technology development within a single integrated hub,” stated Benjamin Hein, Head of Life Science Services at Merck. “It demonstrates our commitment to providing clients with innovative platforms that reduce biosafety testing timelines, address the rising global demand, and ensure the safety of medicines for patients worldwide.”
Spanning 23,000 square meters, the new facility will accommodate biosafety testing, analytical development, and cell banking manufacturing services. It consolidates laboratories previously spread across four different buildings, fostering collaboration among scientists and enhancing automation and digitalization to improve Right First Time (RFT) performance.
Over the past five years, Merck has significantly invested in expanding its biosafety testing capabilities for clients globally. The company’s international biosafety testing network includes sites in Shanghai, China; Singapore; Stirling and Glasgow, UK; and Rockville, MD, USA.
The new Rockville facility will feature cutting-edge testing capabilities, including a rapid methods package designed to expedite virus testing for bulk harvest material. This package is the first to utilize the Blazar® CHO Animal Origin Free (AOF) panel, a targeted molecular method for detecting virus families. By integrating the Blazar® CHO AOF panel with assays for mycoplasma, sterility, and retrovirus-like particle detection, test results can be delivered in just 14 days, compared to the 35 days required by traditional assay methods.
Merck offers a comprehensive multi-modality testing portfolio, incorporating innovative platforms that reduce biosafety testing timelines while maintaining the highest quality standards. This portfolio includes the rapid methods package featuring the Blazar® CHO AOF panel and the recently launched Aptegra™ platform, which is the first validated all-in-one genetic stability assay of its kind. These advancements will enable Merck to continue providing high-quality testing services and regulatory expertise, helping to bring life-changing medicines to patients more efficiently and safely.
