The centre, a 1,700sqm complex consisting of eight laboratories in Nerul, Navi Mumbai, will provide contract development services for applications ranging from chromatography for drug discovery to shade matching for cosmetic pigments .
Inaugeration of the unit follows just six months after Germany-based Merck bought processing technology specialist Millipore and is part of an ongoing expansion of the combined firm’s chemistry business according to laboratory head Klaus Bischoff.
"Following the acquisition of Millipore, a leading life sciences company, earlier last year; Merck Chemicals consolidated its position by covering the entire value chain for our pharma and biopharma customers.”
He also suggested the centre “will be an ideal platform to showcase Merck's capabilities in the high growth fields of Biopharmaceutical Process Solutions, Laboratory Essentials as well as Pigments and Cosmetics for our customers in India.”
Demand
Prantik Mukherjee, head of Merck Millipore, predicted demand from both multinational drugmakers operating in India and the increasing number of home-grown manufacturers.
"The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art application, demonstration and quality control laboratories that meet stringent international standards.”
Mukherjee went on to say that: “We will also offer resources for sales force training, for Merck as well as our customers. The aim is to anticipate and not just meet customer needs; thereby verifying our claim of being a true partner in their business.
The Nerul centre is the second application technology unit Merck has established in the last twelve months after the unit it set up in Sao Paulo, Brazil and is a further indication of the firm's efforts to grow in emerging markets.