Merck KGaA is planning a biopharmaceutical production plant at its headquarters in Darmstadt. The plant will cost approximately Euro190 million and close to 200 new positions will be created. This is the second largest investment made by the company in its 338-year history.
Initially, the new plant will produce the monoclonal antibody drug Erbitux for the treatment of colorectal and head and neck cancer. Merck acquired the rights to develop and market Erbitux outside the U.S. and Canada from Imclone. According to the company, Merck first launched Erbitux in 2003 and now markets it in 52 countries. Merck says the oncology drug is its top-selling product.
