The facility would function as a biotech hub that would support commercial manufacturing for biotech and pharmaceutical customers across Asia-Pacific, the Darmstadt-headquartered group said.

Merck also plans to work with the Daejeon government to support biotech companies based in the Daedeok Research Complex located in Daejeon, as well as expand the bio-research cooperation with leading Korean universities.

Speaking at a signing ceremony, Matthias Heinzel, executive board member and CEO, Life Science, said that with South Korea emerging as a global leader in the biotech industry the MoU demonstrates Merck’s commitment to the region by working closely with the government to better support its customers in the region.

Heinzel added that the Korean hub would play a vital role in fulfilling demand in the Asia-Pacific region while representing an important base for further biopharma industry development in the Asian country, where Daejon is regarded as the heart of the biotech sector.

“We expect this collaboration to serve as an opportunity for our pharmaceutical-bio sector to take a leap forward as the science and technology industry of South Korea,” said Chang Yang Lee, the country’s Minister of Trade, Industry & Energy.

Under the nonbinding MOU, Daejeon City and South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy are helping fund the effort, Merck said.

Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist