Merck Announces Collaboration with Solvias for New Pyrogen Detection Kit

• Only cell-line-based Monocyte Activation Test (MAT) kit on the market
• Detects broad spectrum of pyrogens and offers high reproducibility, sensitivity
• Eliminates the need for live animal testing

Darmstadt, Germany, May 29, 2018 — Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced a collaboration with Solvias, a Swiss contract research and service provider, to offer the PyroMAT™ System, a new MAT kit for pyrogen detection. The kit, which joins other products in Merck’s Pyrogen Detection portfolio, was developed collaboratively by both companies.

Because pyrogen contaminations in pharmaceutical products, biotherapeutics and medical devices can induce life-threatening fevers, manufacturers must ensure that pyrogen concentrations do not exceed certain limits. The new PyroMAT™ System, the only cell-line-based MAT kit on the market, detects the full range of pyrogens in pharmaceutical raw materials and products.

“Our new PyroMAT™ System has many advantages over existing methods, which are often limited in the products and range of pyrogens that can be detected,” said Jean-Charles Wirth, Head of the Applied Solutions business unit, Life Science, at Merck. “This system offers a high-quality, ready-to-use in vitro method that does not require live animal testing and detects the broad spectrum of pyrogens.”

The new kit eliminates the laboratory work required to maintain the cell line, and the cells are qualified in terms of performance and shipment.

“We are pleased that our collaboration with Merck to distribute the cell-based test is now coming to fruition,” said Karen Huebscher, CEO, Solvias. “The new PyroMAT™ System has significant potential through distinct advantages over current methods of testing for pyrogens. It produces results that are both reliable and reproducible, characteristics that are essential for quality assurance.”

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About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science, and electronics. Around 58,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene-editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2020, Merck generated sales of € 17.5 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Electronics.