Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada,
announced the opening of its new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility
in Hangzhou, China. The facility, located in the Hangzhou Economic and
Technology Area (HEDA), will package Merck medicines for China and the
Asia Pacific region and will become a critical part of Merck’s global
supply chain.
The new facility – a nearly US$120 million investment by Merck –
deepens Merck’s growing research and development (R&D),
manufacturing and commercial presence in China. Merck also has an
R&D Center in Beijing, three manufacturing facilities throughout the
country, a marketing and sales organization headquartered in Shanghai,
and employs more than 5000 employees in China.
“Merck built its first China plant in 1994 in Hangzhou,” said Pam
Cheng, president, MSD China. “Today, 20 years later, we are celebrating
this new plant in Hangzhou that marks another milestone in our
commitment to invest in China and further demonstrates the importance of
China to Merck.
Facts about the new Merck manufacturing facility in HEDA
“The new facility in HEDA joins an integrated, interdependent network
of 72 Merck facilities that supply medicines and vaccines to more than
140 countries,” said Mr. Deese. “The HEDA facility is one of the most
advanced and largest packaging facilities in China and the region.”
The new facility is 75,000 m2 and is capable of holding up
to 16 high speed lines to package pharmaceutical tablets and sterile
Merck medicines that are used to manage diabetes, cardiovascular,
infectious, respiratory and bone diseases. Packaging capacity is
currently estimated at more than 300 million packages annually. Products
used in Merck’s clinical studies and in its commercial activities to
support future new product launches also will be packaged at the new
HEDA plant.
The new facility is fully compliant with the rigorous quality,
environmental, safety and compliance standards that all Merck
manufacturing facilities worldwide meet. The HEDA facility received a
current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) certification in January
2013. Protecting the environment was also a critical consideration in
the facility’s construction – special air, waste and water management
procedures and systems were built into the facility.
