SEOUL, KOREA- Merck Korea (Managing Director: Dr. Michael Grund), the Korean affiliate of Germany-based chemical and pharmaceutical company Merck, inaugurated ‘Biomanufacturing Sciences & Training Center(BSTC)’ with Korean biotech Genexine, Inc. (CEO: Dr. Young Chul Sung) at Korea Bio Park in Pangyo, Gyeonggi-do on October 24, 2013. Benoit Gourdier(Head of Sales Asia), Chin Bin Ta(Director of PS sales, Singapore and Korea), Willem Kools(Head of Field Marketing and Biomanufacturing Sciences Network), Steve Vermant(Director of Biopharma Process Solutions Field Marketing APAC), Kimihiko Kosugi(Senior Manager, Field Marketing PS, Japan & Korea), Takao Ito(Senior Manager, BSN PS, Japan & Korea) visited Korea to participate inauguration ceremony.
Merck Korea and Genexine have agreed to establish an advanced process training center in September, 2012. Genexine can develop and manufacture products through technical cooperation and joint project with Merck, which is a foreign invested company. Merck organized BSN(Biomanufacturing Science Network) team which is responsible for technical support of development of manufacture process and production.
BSTC offers process development and training program to bio companies like Genexine to feel close to Merck’s products. Biopharmaceutical products needs investment of long time, manpower because they are produced after process development, R&D, non-clinical trial, clinical trial step 1~3, manufacturing. BSTC has small lab-sized equipment and technology for customers to test Merck Millipore’s products to their products. If bio companies concludes manufacturing process of Merck Millipore is appropriate, Merck supports them to enter biologics market including biosimilar by applying larger-sized manufacturing process. It is very important to support bio companies to enter biosimilar market, because fast entry is related to high market share.
Dr. Grund, emphasize “BSTC can display Merck equipments to every customers by maintaining equipments directly. Also, it is located in Pangyo, Gyeonggi-do which is good for access to customers. Most of bio companies are located in Ochang, Osong, Daejeon, and BSTC helps saving time. It is expected to progress many projects simultaneously after receiving sample of customer companies and have consulting, presentation, seminar inviting customers. Consulting and seminar will be held next year with customized schedule.”
“For pharmaceuticals, production is important but registration with appropriate authorities for approval is a lengthy and complex process and it varies from country to country, making it difficult for domestic companies to export pharmaceuticals. We hope this BSTC will help bring a success to development and implementation of customer training programs, leading to valuable collaboration and a synergy between the two companies in validation service and CMO business. We expect our know-how to contribute to the development of Genexine and Korea’s biotech industry,” said Daniel Stamm, VP, Head of Global Sales Process Solutions, Merck Millipore.
Merck Millipore is a leading supplier to the global life science industry, offering a broad range of innovative products and services used in the research, development and production of biotech and pharmaceutical drugs as well as general laboratory applications.
And it offers a comprehensive range of products, technologies and services for pharma and biotech companies, as well as for academia, to improve laboratory productivity and to develop and optimize manufacturing processes.
