Merck KGaA to Expand US Biopharma R&D Facility

On Feb. 6, 2019, Merck KGaA announced a $70-million investment to expand its R&D facility in Billerica, MA.

The new building will span 145,000 ft² and offer new laboratory and collaborative working space to accommodate approximately 400 new and current R&D employees focused on oncology, immuno-oncology, and immunology. When construction is completed in 2021, the building will offer wet labs, office space, and a cafeteria for the campus. 

The company reports that the building will also be constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and WELL certifications. LEED is a preeminent program for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. WELL is a building standard focused on improving people's health and wellness through built environments.

"Our talented and passionate R&D teams based in Billerica have been highly engaged in advancing a number of pipeline compounds,” said Luciano Rossetti, MD, global head of R&D for the biopharma business of Merck KGaA, in a company press release. “We continue to strengthen our innovation footprint in both the US and Darmstadt, Germany, where our global R&D headquarters are located, with the goal of delivering transformational value to patients around the world.”

Merck KGaA’s US presence includes three businesses-Healthcare, Life Science, and Performance Materials-with nearly 10,000 employees working in R&D, manufacturing, and corporate roles across almost 60 sites nationwide. Within the state of Massachusetts, more than 2800 professionals work across 10 locations. With this latest project, the company will have invested more than $150 million in infrastructure to advance biopharmaceutical R&D in Massachusetts in recent years, with more than 150 new jobs added to its US R&D hub in Billerica since 2011.

Source: Merck KGaA