Merck to expand Cali viral and gene therapy plant
The firm cited customer demand as the main driver for the investment, explaining that the plan was to add 21,000 square feet of production space, two fill/finish suites and clean rooms.
The expansion – which Merck said will increase current capacity by 90% - is due to be completed this year will support clinical and commercial production.
Merck said the expanded facility will work with both its cell-banking operations in Rockville, Maryland and its viral and gene therapy production capacity in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Carlsbad facility became part of Merck's manufacturing network through the acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich in 2014.
News of the expansion follows just days after Merck announced it had upped bioreactor capacity at its facility in Martillac, France in a move designed to broaden its biologics manufacturing offering.
