Merck KGaA invests €250 million in production in China
pharmafile | November 4, 2016 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | China, Merck KGaA, Nantong, manufacturing
Merck KGaA inaugurated their Nantong pharmaceutical plant on 4 November. At the same time, Merck also announced that it plans to invest a further €80 million in a Life Science Centre close to the Nantong site.
There are plans to invest a further €90 million into the new plant; this will bring total investment into to €170 million. Once this investment is complete, the number of employees will rise, from the current number of 180 people, to more than 400 by 2021. The facility is projected to be able to produce 10 billion tablets a year by 2021, when it is planned to run at full capacity.
The Nantong pharmaceutical manufacturing site will focus on the production of Glucophage, Euthyrox and Concor, Merck’s drugs for the treatment of the major chronic diseases diabetes, thyroid disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Merck plans to have drugs from the plant begin to reach by patients by the second half of 2017.
The €80 million investment in the a Life Science Centre, near to the Nantong pharmaceutical plant, will manufacture high-purity inorganic salts, cell culture media products and ready-to-use media.
“China is of strategic importance to Merck as a key driver of our sustainable growth. In line with our long-term commitment to China, Merck has always been dedicated to localizing global expertise to make a meaningful difference to our patients and life science customers,” said Stefan Oschmann, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck. “Combining the strengths of our two business sectors Healthcare and Life Science, the Nantong site is a pioneering initiative to foster a comprehensive value chain that will create better access to health, enabling Merck to support China’s evolving developmental and healthcare priorities.”
Ben Hargreaves
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