Merck KGaA to transfer tech for vaccine manufacturing site in Ghana

Merck KGaA says it will provide technology and training to a local team in Sub-Saharan Africa, to help establish a dedicated human vaccine manufacturing facility.

The German pharmaceutical firm signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ridge Management Solutions last week.

Under the agreement, Merck will provide its ‘know-how’, techniques and equipment for the plant – to be located in Accra, next to the University of Ghana.

“Merck is covering the project end to end…Starting with the feasibility study and basic design until tech transfer, validation and training the local team on the running of machines,” a Merck spokesperson told us.

Within Merck’s Life Science branch, “we have all the knowledge and techniques needed for the project in Ghana,” the spokesperson added.  

The MoU is the base for a contract, which will be signed after the feasibility study and basic design is finished, we were told.

Merck said it is ‘fostering its presence’ in Africa, where it has ties with Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Angola, Mozambique and South Africa.

In 2015, the firm acquired Sigma Aldrich as part of a plan to increase drug sales in South Africa, Kenya, Angola, Mozambique and Algeria.