BRIEF—Merck debuts 60 million-euro Launch and Technology Center in Darmstad

Germany’s Merck KGaA today announced it is investing 160 million euros ($159 million) in a new facility in Darmstadt — the Launch and Technology Center — to further speed up the availability of future pharma medicines for patients in need.

The Launch and Technology Center will bridge together research and commercial manufacturing, ensuring that Merck’s next generations of pharma medicines are available for clinical trials, global launches and commercial supply on time, on quality and on quantity.

Peter Guenter, a member of the executive board and chief executive Merck Healthcare, commented: “Transforming science into impactful therapies drives us here at Merck. With the Launch and Technology Center, we will bridge together research and commercial production. Once the facility is fully operational, it will ensure that our next generations of pharma medicines are available for clinical trials, global launches, and commercial supply on time, on quality, and on quantity.”

Teresa Rodó, head of global healthcare operations, added: “For us at Merck, ‘How’ we achieve things is as important as ‘What’ we achieve. We aim the Launch and Technology Center to be a model of sustainability, including solar panels, geothermal energy, heat recovery systems and roof greening among other sustainability features. We build on science and technology as part of the solution to shape our future, overcome challenges and deliver human progress.”