Merck Makes Major Investment in New Singapore Laboratory

• First GMP BioReliance® biosafety testing lab in Asia Pacific offering critical testing services to bring life-changing therapies to market
• Extensive range of upstream and downstream bioprocessing solutions through M Lab™ Collaboration Center, Media Development Services Lab and imMEDIAte Advantage™ Lab

Singapore, September 18, 2018 — Merck, the vibrant science and technology company, today announced the opening of a new 3,800-square-meter laboratory in Singapore. The new, $20 million SGD lab is the first of its kind outside of the US and UK, and the first in Singapore. Biologics testing is a major step in the drug development process to ensure sterility, safety and overall quality of customers’ biological drug products.

"This investment underscores our commitment to Singapore as an important hub for Merck,” said Udit Batra, member of the Merck Executive Board and CEO, Life Science. “Our new BioReliance® lab in Singapore is the first of its kind for biomanufacturing in this region. And our reimagined M Lab™ Collaboration Center, which recreates an actual manufacturing environment, emerged as part of our close work with the Singapore Economic Development Board. We thank the Board for their partnership as we continue to serve the growing needs of our pharma and biotech customers in bringing new therapies to market.”

Singapore is at the heart of the Asia Pacific region, and is the Asian headquarters to many multinational pharmaceutical organizations that have a significant manufacturing footprint on the island. Its vibrant ecosystem has also attracted local Life Science companies and start-ups to establish a presence here.

“The establishment of Merck’s biosafety testing lab will strengthen Singapore’s competitiveness as a leading global site for biologics manufacturing,” said Dr. Beh Swan Gin, chairman of Singapore Economic Development Board. “The company’s M Lab™ Collaboration Centre is also a welcome addition to Singapore’s life science innovation ecosystem. Both projects will provide Singaporeans with the opportunity to acquire highly-skilled and specialised capabilities.”

Merck provides the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of high-quality products, services and testing for biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

BioReliance® Biosafety Testing Lab

Merck’s BioReliance® biosafety testing services portfolio delivers biosafety testing services to the global pharmaceutical and biotech industry. These crucial safety-testing services ensure the safe release of leading medicines to patients around the world.

M Lab™ Collaboration Center

Merck’s M Lab™ Collaboration Center offers non-GMP lab space for training, hands-on demonstrations and process optimization, supported by Merck’s technical experts. Designed to recreate an actual manufacturing environment, the center in Singapore is the latest addition to Merck’s network of nine M Lab™ Collaboration Centers worldwide.

The flexible lab allows customers to recreate their specific processes for troubleshooting critical process issues without impacting their own production line. The center includes an upgraded suite of digital interactive applications for knowledge sharing and technical exploration.

Merck is the world’s oldest pharmaceuticals and chemicals company, celebrating its 350th anniversary this year. The company is continuing its legacy of defining the future and leading the evolution of drug development and manufacturing of life-enhancing drugs, increasing the quality, safety and access to patients and at a reduced cost.

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About Merck in Singapore

Merck established its presence in Singapore in 1973 to promote Merck products in South East Asia under E. Merck Pte. Ltd. (Singapore). Merck (Singapore) Pte Ltd. was founded on August 26, 1994. Merck Singapore is the regional headquarters in Asia Pacific with more than 360 employees supporting the healthcare, life science and performance materials businesses. Merck Singapore is also the regional training and application hub, offering technology transfer and services including testing, process optimization for the Life Science industry in the region.

The Life Science business sector of Merck offers a broad portfolio of tools and solutions with more than 300,000 products, ranging from lab water systems to gene editing tools, antibodies, cell lines, to end-to-end solutions to help customers in developing and manufacturing drugs. We work closely with our customers from academia, biotech and pharma to help deliver the promise of their work better, faster and safer.

The Healthcare business sector of Merck focuses on designing and developing medicines and intelligent devices that provide ongoing care for patients beyond their treatment. This includes new medications to treat conditions such as cancer or multiple sclerosis, but also innovative technologies that make life easier for patients. Our goal is to help people at every stage of life – also when it comes to creating new life especailly as the global market leader in fertility treatments.

The Performance Materials business sector of Merck is a leading solutions provider in the premium segment of high-tech materials and functional specialty chemicals. These materials are widely used in the wafer fabs industry of Singapore.

About Merck

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 53,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2017, Merck generated sales of €15.3 billion in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck holds the global rights to the “Merck” name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.