A Major Milestone in Drug Development Services
Merck, a global leader in science and technology, has officially opened a cutting-edge €290 million biosafety testing facility in Rockville, Maryland. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to significantly enhance Merck’s biosafety testing and analytical development capabilities—two critical components in the development and commercialisation of traditional and innovative pharmaceutical therapies. As demand for these services grows globally at a double-digit rate, the new site is poised to play a key role in supporting the next generation of life-saving medicines.
Benjamin Hein, Head of Life Science Services at Merck, shared his enthusiasm about the expansion: “This investment marks the largest expansion in contract testing services in Merck’s history. It will enable us to incorporate advanced automation and technology into a unified space, driving faster, more efficient testing and ensuring the safety of global medicines.”
Innovative Facility Designed for Efficiency and Collaboration
The 23,000-square-metre facility consolidates several laboratories that were previously spread across four buildings into a single, modern hub. By doing so, Merck is fostering increased collaboration among scientists while boosting the integration of automation and digital technologies. The new facility is designed to improve the “Right First Time” (RFT) approach, which ensures high-quality, reliable results from the start.
This integration of advanced tools and technologies not only streamlines workflows but also maximises the capacity to handle a higher volume of biosafety testing and analytical development. With improved connectivity and streamlined processes, Merck is better equipped to meet the growing global demand for biosafety services.
Global Expansion to Support Clients Worldwide
Merck has made substantial investments over the past five years to expand its global biosafety testing network. The company’s testing facilities now include locations in Shanghai, China; Singapore; Stirling and Glasgow in the UK; and Rockville, MD, USA. This expansion is crucial for enabling Merck to provide clients with the latest advancements in biosafety testing, no matter where they are located.
As a result of this global expansion, Merck is well-positioned to deliver faster turnaround times, improved safety standards, and enhanced regulatory expertise to support clients in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
Advanced Testing Capabilities to Meet Growing Demand
The new Rockville facility is equipped with some of the most advanced testing technologies in the industry. One of the highlights of the site is a rapid testing package, which accelerates virus testing of bulk harvest materials. This package is the first to feature the Blazar® CHO Animal Origin Free (AOF) panel, a revolutionary molecular method that detects virus families with high accuracy. This targeted panel is integrated with assays for mycoplasma, sterility, and retrovirus-like particle detection, providing results in just 14 days—substantially faster than the 35 days required with traditional methods.
By combining these tools, Merck is helping clients accelerate their drug development timelines, reducing the risks and costs associated with lengthy testing procedures.
Driving Innovation with Disruptive Platforms
In addition to the rapid methods package, Merck’s comprehensive testing portfolio includes the recently launched Aptegra™ platform, the first all-in-one, validated genetic stability assay of its kind. This platform allows pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to perform critical genetic stability tests quickly, safely, and efficiently, further reducing the time required to bring new therapies to market.
Merck’s commitment to innovation in biosafety testing is clear. The company’s disruptive platforms are designed to meet the highest quality standards while decreasing testing timelines, ultimately enabling faster, safer development of medicines that can change lives.
Commitment to Global Health
With the opening of this new Rockville facility, Merck underscores its ongoing commitment to the safety, efficiency, and speed of drug development. Through continued investments in cutting-edge technologies, the company is helping to ensure that medicines reach patients more quickly, improving health outcomes on a global scale.