MilliporeSigma Expands Biologics Testing Center in China

MilliporeSigma, the US and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced on Nov. 21, 2023 that it has opened the second phase of its new €29 million (US$43 million) Biologics Testing Center in Shanghai, China, which opened in 2022. The expansion includes an added 1500 m2 of lab space, which are the first biosafety laboratories for the company in the Chinese market. This expansion enables the company to serve local clients, according to a company press release.

The new lab space offers testing services for cell line characterization and lot release from pre-clinical development to commercialization. MilliporeSigma can now offer biosafety testing services for monoclonal antibodies, other recombinant proteins, and cell and gene therapies to the local market.

The first phase of the new testing center allowed the company to provide testing services for viral clearance studies, while the second phase adds capabilities for cell line characterization to help ensure the safety, purity, and identity of cell banks. The testing center also offers current good manufacturing practice-compliant lot release testing for unprocessed and purified bulk harvest for meeting the requirements for biologics that are entering preclinical and clinical studies and for licensed biologics.

“The opening of the facility deepens our partnership with our Chinese clients who are at the forefront of shaping modern medicine,” said Dirk Lange, head of Life Science Services, Life Science business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the press release. “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.”

Source: MilliporeSigma