Merck has announced the start of commercial production of its first GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) compliant manufacturing line for cell culture media (CCM) in China.

The approximate €6.6 million investment at its Life Science Center in Nantong, a major industrial hub in the Yangtze River Delta region, aims to address the growing local demand for quality custom CCM used in biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, and novel therapeutics.

Commercialisation of the local production line enables Chinese customers to access Merck’s well-established custom CCM products and services in a reliable and efficient manner. Leveraging extensive in-house formulation knowledge, Merck designs robust custom CCM for customers’ specific processes and creates innovative solutions that enhance consistency and efficiency of their processes.

Applying media components from qualified sources only, the Nantong GMP facility allows for a smooth transition from pilot to commercial-scale cell culture production with comprehensive regulatory documentation.

Along with tailor-made dry powder CCM products, customised technical and operational assistance will also be provided to support local biopharma manufacturers’ processes and shorten time to market. Product lead time is expected to be reduced as a result of local manufacturing.