MilliporeSigma, Merck KGaA’s life science business, opened the second phase of its new €29 million ($31.7 million) Biologics Testing Center in China, adding 1,500 m2 to the lab opened last year. These are the first biosafety laboratories for the company in this market which, noted Dirk Lange, head of life science services, Merck KGaA, enable clients to locally access a broad range of testing services for cell line characterization and lot release from preclinical development to commercialization.
“The opening of the facility deepens our partnership with our Chinese clients who are at the forefront of shaping modern medicine,” added Lange. “The Biologics Testing Center in Shanghai now provides critical local services backed by our more than 75 years of global experience in the testing market.”
The first phase of investment provides testing services for viral clearance studies. The second phase adds capabilities for cell line characterization that support biopharma customers to ensure the safety, purity, and identity of their cell banks. The testing center also offers cGMP-compliant lot release testing for unprocessed and purified bulk harvest to meet requirements for biologics entering preclinical and clinical studies, as well as licensed biologics.
The Shanghai facility joins the company’s global biosafety testing network with sites in Singapore; Stirling and Glasgow, U.K.; and Rockville, MD.
