Aesica acquires MSD facility
Aesica, supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients has acquired the chemical manufacturing facility at Ponders End, UK, from Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), UK subsidiary of the American company Merck & Co.
Aesica, supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients has acquired the chemical manufacturing facility at Ponders End, UK, from Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), UK subsidiary of the American company Merck & Co.
In addition to acquiring the site, Aesica has also entered into an agreement to supply intermediates and active ingredients to Merck over a number of years. The supply agreement has a potential revenue stream of US$150 million up to $300 million.
The Ponders End site is a high-tech manufacturing facility located in Enfield, North London. It has potent compound and bulk manufacturing facilities producing a number of MSD's products. Under the agreement, 74 employees currently working at the site will transfer their employment from MSD to Aesica immediately.
Dr Robert Hardy, Aesica ceo, said: 'Through the acquisition, we gain a significant increase in our manufacturing capacity and capabilities, as well as a highly valued new client via the supply agreement with Merck.'
The sale of the site is part of Merck's global re-structuring of its manufacturing operations (announced November 2005) to create a global manufacturing network that is better aligned to Merck's current and anticipated future product demand.