Merck Millipore, the life science division of Merck KGaA, has opened a GMP bioproduction facility in Martillac, France, which provides customers with access to single-use process technologies, increasing speed to clinic.
The site will serve users of Merck Millipore’s Provantage biodevelopment and clinical supply solutions with an ‘open source’ manufacturing option that incorporates the latest technologies for upstream and downstream processes.
Merck Millipore says this approach gives customers greater control over production: with a traditional outsourcing model, the process must fit the facility and the contract manufacturer controls the process, whereas with ProVantage, Merck Millipore develops the process for further use by the customer.
The Martillac plant provides access to proven technologies, process development expertise and validation services, making it possible to go from clone selection to GMP product in only 12 months.
The facility offers GMP production of mammalian proteins for pre-clinical to Phase II production at the 50L to 1,250L scale. For Phase III and commercial production, manufacturing can be transferred to any location, at any scale.
Christophe Couturier, vp of services and solutions at Merck Millipore, said: ‘As the basis for Provantage solutions, our experts complement customers' internal capabilities in a way that combines the best of in-house production and conventional outsourcing. The end result is increased productivity and an accelerated time to market.’
