Merck invests $76 M to expand ADC manufacturing for novel cancer therapies

MilliporeSigma, the US and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has announced a $76 million expansion of its antibody drug conjugate (ADC) manufacturing capabilities and capacity at its Bioconjugation Center of Excellence facility in St. Louis, Missouri in the US.

This investment will triple existing capacity and enhance the company’s contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) offering, reinforcing its commitment to clients and patients.

The investment represents a critical step in the company’s ongoing growth journey to partner with new and existing clients as they advance their drug development pipelines. With additional capacity and by scaling utilities and enhancing Process and Analytical Development (PAD) labs, MilliporeSigma will provide industry-leading support for early-stage and commercial bioconjugates. The company’s goal is to ensure clients can bring their innovations to market more effectively and with shorter turnaround times.

The ADC capacity expansion project will upgrade 34,000 square feet to benefit the Process and Analytical Development, Quality Control, Research and Development, Manufacturing, and Logistics departments. It will add new labs, a dedicated manufacturing buffer preparation facility, and a cold storage and a GMP-controlled room temperature (CRT) warehouse that will be located close to the existing facility.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. ADCs are one of the most promising drug modalities for cancer treatment. Since 2017, there has been a significant increase in approvals for ADCs. This growth is attributed to advancements in linker and conjugation technologies that improve safety and efficacy, as well as the designation of ADCs as first-line therapies.