Merck relocates Scottish operations to US
Merck KGaA has said that during the course of this year it will relocate its pharmaceutical research operations in Aberdeen, Scotland, to its larger biotech research facility in the United States. The Aberdeen site focuses on research to eliminate immunogenic properties from antibodies and other therapeutic proteins.
Merck KGaA has said that during the course of this year it will relocate its pharmaceutical research operations in Aberdeen, Scotland, to its larger biotech research facility in the United States. The Aberdeen site focuses on research to eliminate immunogenic properties from antibodies and other therapeutic proteins.
DeImmunisation technologies aimed at developing antibodies and other protein therapeutics with superior tolerability profiles will continue to be an important asset in the discovery and development of innovative biological drugs for Merck. In the future this activity will be performed exclusively at Merck's US research centre, EMD Lexigen, located in Billerica, near Boston, MA. An internal evaluation revealed that synergies can be expected from a full integration of these activities with the research for New Biologic Entities taking place at EMD Lexigen. In addition, contract DeImmunisation work for external customers will no longer be offered. Eighteen employees in Scotland will be affected by the consolidation and closure of the Aberdeen site.
Merck acquired the Aberdeen site as part of Biovation in 2000. Former industry scientists founded Biovation in 1994 as a biotech start-up company.