NANTONG, CHINA: Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck, held the groundbreaking ceremony for its new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Nantong, China. The new facility, which will be the Group’s second-largest pharmaceutical manufacturing facility worldwide, will focus on the bulk production and packaging of Glucophage, Concor and Euthyrox, Merck Serono’s leading brands for the treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and thyroid disorders, respectively. These medicines are referenced in China’s essential drug list, making Merck Serono the first and only multinational company in China to dedicate a large scale green-field investment to the production of drugs on the list, comprising medicines that address public healthcare needs and must be available at all times.
“We have steadfastly aligned our focus and strategy with the Chinese government’s efforts to increase patient access to quality care throughout the country. Today, we are focused on localizing production to better cater to the demands of Chinese doctors and patients. At the same time, we are localizing research and development to further build a differentiated portfolio of medicines in China, aimed at serving patient needs for general as well as specialized care. We are also creating alliances and partnerships with local partners in every part of our operations,” said Belen Garijo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Merck Serono.
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