Merck KGaA opens outsourcing centre in India
pharmafile | January 5, 2011 | News story | Research and Development | Application and Technology Centre, India, Merck KGaA, Merck Millipore, Millipore, outsourcing
Merck KGaA has opened a new technology centre near Mumbai in India that will offer a range of research services to pharma and biotech companies.
Enabling drug discovery will be the primary focus of the Application and Technology Centre, with half of its eight laboratories looking at areas such as separation analysis.
This is a “critical method in the identification and separation of new chemical entities and new biological entities”, the company said.
“Our goal is to help [pharma firms] reduce time to market through our products and services,” says Prantik Mukherjee, head of Merck Millipore – Merck bought life sciences company Millipore last year.
“The aim is to anticipate and not just meet customer needs, thereby verifying our claim of being a true partner in their business,” Mukherjee added.
The company is setting great store by its ability to provide bespoke solutions for customers.
“Customisation alone is the key,” says Marek Dziki, managing director of Merck (India). “Merck will develop different formulations and new methods as per our customers’ needs.”
As well as pharma and biotech companies, Dziki envisages the centre’s work as being of interest to the chemicals, academia, food and beverages, automobiles and cosmetics sectors.
Four of the new labs will target cosmetic actives, cosmetic pigments, printing and coating applications, as well as water and chemical analysis capabilities.
Merck says it will also offer resources for sales force training, for internal customers and third parties.
The new facility represents an extension of Merck KgaA’s existing interests in India: it has been established in the country since 1967 and has a manufacturing facility at Goa.
Just over a year ago the manufacturer bought bioscience company Bangalore Genei (India) Private (BGIP).
The Bangalore-based business specialises in the development, production, marketing and sales of products for proteomic and genomic research.
Adam Hill
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