MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced the opening of its second Carlsbad, California-based facility, significantly expanding its global CDMO footprint. This new $110 million, 140,000-square foot facility will more than double the company’s existing capacity to support large-scale commercial and industrial manufacturing for viral gene therapy, in a market expected to grow to $10 billion by 2026.
“Today, most gene therapies target rare diseases, but there is an urgent need to efficiently manufacture these treatments to reach larger patient populations,” said Matthias Heinzel, Member of the Executive Board and CEO, Life Science, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. “As a leader in viral vector manufacturing, this increase in capacity and scale is the next step in enabling our customers to bring new curative treatments to market.”
This is the company’s second Carlsbad, California-based facility to serve cell and gene therapy customers driven by the industry’s rapid adoption of viral vector-based therapies. Between the two facilities, there are 30 cleanroom suites to support all aspects of manufacturing from small-to large-scale clinical and commercial production. The new facility leverages cutting-edge suspension technology to enable scalable and cost-effective manufacturing.
“We are continuing to invest in solving cell and gene therapy challenges in development andmanufacturing, working alongside drug developers to industrialize, scale and accelerate the pathto deliver therapies to patients,” Heinzel added.
The expansion of the Carlsbad facility adds to the company’s ambition to accelerate growth through investments in the “Big 3”, including the Process Solutions business unit within the Life Science business sector as a key driver.
The Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has proven its commercial execution and global regulatory success as one of the first CDMOs to be granted U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency approval for viral vector manufacturing. With nearly 30 years of experience in cell and gene therapy, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, offers unique CDMO services streamlined as a single, highly experienced provider.