Merck, a leading science and technology company, has initiated commercial production of its first GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) compliant manufacturing line for cell culture media (CCM) in China. This significant €6.6 million investment at its Life Science Center in Nantong, situated in the Yangtze River Delta region, aims to meet the increasing local demand for high-quality, customized CCM used in biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and novel therapeutics.
The introduction of local production capabilities enables Chinese customers to access Merck’s established custom CCM products and services reliably and efficiently. Leveraging extensive internal expertise in formulation, Merck develops robust custom CCM tailored to specific customer processes, offering innovative solutions that enhance consistency and efficiency.
“This investment underscores Merck’s commitment to expanding its presence and capabilities in China, supporting the growth of the local biopharmaceutical industry,” stated Roy Wu, Managing Director of Merck China’s Life Science business sector. “The new cell culture media manufacturing line demonstrates our dedication to advancing patient care through innovation and leveraging our global network of expertise.”
The Nantong facility adheres strictly to GMP standards, sourcing media components from qualified suppliers to ensure seamless scalability from pilot to commercial-scale cell culture production, supported by comprehensive regulatory documentation. Alongside bespoke dry powder CCM products, Merck provides tailored technical and operational support to local biopharmaceutical manufacturers, aiming to accelerate time-to-market. Local manufacturing is anticipated to reduce product lead times significantly.
“The Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area (NETDA) is focused on fostering the high-quality development of the biopharmaceutical industry,” remarked Cao Haifeng, Deputy Secretary of NETDA Party Working Committee and Director of NETDA Administrative Committee. “Merck’s Life Science Center project in Nantong will make substantial contributions to the local biopharma ecosystem.”
Merck offers a comprehensive suite of innovative solutions to both local and global biopharmaceutical customers. In addition to CCM, its Life Science business provides a broad array of products, including cell lines, bioreactors, filters, resins, chromatographic tools, pharmaceutical raw materials, and excipients. These end-to-end process solutions support biopharmaceutical manufacturers comprehensively, from initial process development through to scale-up, thereby benefiting patients and advancing global health.
