Merck Millipore announces 2013 price hike

Merck Millipore has announced plans to increase what it charges for chemical and biopharmaceutical processing solutions, citing rising costs.

The Germany-based firm - which operates as EMD Millipore in the US - said that it would increase prices by between four and six per cent as of January 1 next year, explaining that the move was driven by recent and anticipated cost increases, macroeconomic trends and inflation among other considerations.

Andrew Bulpin, company head of process solutions, said: "The 2013 price increase for process solutions products reflects the impact of higher costs, associated with raw materials, energy and labour, and increased regulatory demands on the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry.

"These nominal price modifications will help us continue delivering the high level of quality products, pharmaceutical ingredients and services our customers expect, thereby ensuring patient safety and increasing speed to market."

Merck Millipore said that the price increases will differ by product lines depending on the specific impact of cost drivers and market dynamics.

Expansion

The price hike follows a period of expansion for Merck Millipore's process solutions business, beginning in March when the firm partnered with Canada's Center for the Commercialisation of Regenerative Medicen on a bioreactor optimisation project.

Since then the firm has expanded its technology offering, partnered with two UK firms on vaccine development and launched a new media for CHO cells.

More recently Merck Millipore established a facility in Martillac, France where it will offer both process development services and contract manufacturing.

Whether the additional investment Merck made in these projects was a factor in driving up its costs is unclear, but the success of these expansion efforts combined with the price hikes could result in a considerable boost for the firm next year.