Merck Collaborates with iCON™ to Offer BioReliance® End-to-End Turnkey Modular MAb Manufacturing Platform

• Speeds access to biologics worldwide
• Extends Merck’s BioReliance® End-to-End offering

Darmstadt, Germany, December 20, 2017 — Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced a collaboration with IPS-Integrated Project Services, LLC and G-CON Manufacturing, Inc. to provide the most advanced 2,000L monoclonal antibody (MAb) facility and single-use process technology platform. The deal will extend Merck’s BioReliance® End-to-End offering by integrating Merck’s single-use process equipment, end-to-end process development capabilities and cGMP manufacturing experience into the iCON™ facility design platform, for a true turnkey modular facility solution.

“Biologics are helping to fight some of the toughest diseases worldwide, and demand for these therapies continues to grow,” said Andrew Bulpin, Head of the Process Solutions business, Life Science, at Merck. “This collaboration is an innovative concept built upon Merck’s years of experience in designing, constructing and running cGMP biologics production, combined with the iCON™ facility, team and design platform. It will decrease time-to-market and accelerate access to biologics to improve the lives of patients around the world.”

The integrated end-to-end offering will deliver an innovative platform for fast and flexible deployment of 2,000L MAb production facilities. The hallmarks of the combined solution will include pre-fabricated cleanroom units, a structural platform based on cost-effective pre-engineered building delivery, bioprocess and single-use equipment expertise, as well as turnkey facilities capable of fast-track deployment.

This collaboration extends Merck’s BioReliance® End-to-End offering — a comprehensive suite of products and services that help biopharmaceutical companies accelerate the progression of molecules into the clinic and toward commercialization. The turnkey package includes process development, cGMP manufacturing, facility design, equipment for pilot plant production, process and equipment training, technology transfer, equipment qualification and set-up for commercialization.

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.