MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, opened the second phase of its new €29 million biologics testing center in China, adding 1,500 square meters to the lab that opened last year.  These are the first biosafety laboratories for the company in this market, enabling clients to locally access a broad range of testing services for cell line characterization and lot release from preclinical development to commercialization.

The first phase of investment provides testing services for viral clearance studies. The second phase adds capabilities for cell line characterization that support biopharma customers to ensure the safety, purity, and identity of their cell banks. The testing center also offers cGMP-compliant lot release testing for unprocessed and purified bulk harvest to meet requirements for biologics entering preclinical and clinical studies, as well as licensed biologics.

With the completion of phase two of the facility, the life science business now offers a broad range of biosafety testing services for monoclonal antibodies, other recombinant proteins, and cell and gene therapies. The Shanghai facility joins the company’s global biosafety testing network with sites in Singapore; Stirling and Glasgow, UK; and Rockville, MD, USA, and shares the same global expertise, standards, and quality systems.

“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. “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.”