Merck KGaA announces planned research centre investment

Merck Serono and EMD Serono, both subsidiaries of Merck KGaA, have announced plans to expand the presence of EMD Serono with a $50 million (25.3 million pound) research centre investment.

Investment in this site will aim to support the construction of a centre of excellence in discovery and reach a critical mass of research in order to find new therapies for currently unmet medical needs.

When construction is completed, the site will accommodate around 200 experts in a range of fields, including cancer biology, cancer immunotherapy, manufacturing cell lines, molecular modelling, medicinal chemistry, oncogene signalling, therapeutic antibodies and protein engineering.

A further 50 technical operations employees at the site will specialise in protein production and process development.

Bernhard Kirschbaum, head of global research for Merck Serono, said: “We will harness the power of our scientific expertise and understanding of disease biology.”

He added that the company would also use the academic and healthcare resources available to the firm in the area in order to strengthen its commitment to the discovery of novel treatments to enhance the quality of life for patients with serious diseases.

Earlier this month, Merck KGaA announced that its employee newspaper pro had picked up the platinum Inspire award from the League of American Communications Professionals.