Merck establishes new R&D centre in China
pharmafile | December 8, 2011 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing |
Merck is moving further into China by establishing its new Asian research and development headquarters in Beijing.
The Wangjing Park facility will handle drug discovery, translational research, clinical development, regulatory affairs and external scientific research programmes.
This forms part of the so-called ‘gold rush’ that has seen western pharma companies plough funds into the country over the past decade.
This is because of China’s massive population of over 1 billion people, and the increasingly high-rate traditionally western, middle class ailments such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the country.
Merck has made no secret of its ambitions in emerging markets and the new Chinese facility is part of a $1.5 billion investment in R&D there over the next five years.
The company has already said that it wants sales from territories such as China and Latin America to grow to more than 25% of total pharma and vaccine sales by 2013.
Peter Kim, president of Merck Research Laboratories, said: “By strategically locating in China, we are able to complement our existing R&D capabilities, and facilitate new collaborations with scientists in the region and across emerging markets.”
Merck already has a commercial head office in Shanghai and manufacturing outlets at various locations throughout China.
The first phase of the new R&D centre in Beijing is scheduled for completion in 2014, allowing room for 600 employees – both scientists and admin staff – to start work.
Michel Vounatsos, chairman and president of Merck in China, said: “We are immensely proud of the impact that Merck’s medicines and vaccines have had on improving health for the people of China as we have grown our business here.
“We are eager to build on this legacy by directly investing in R&D here,” he added.
Adam Hill
