• Companies to co-develop a first-of-its-kind, single-use flow-through polishing system for GMP operation
  

• Merck’s continuous processing expertise to accelerate Transcenta’s development, implementation of continuous bioprocessing platform

• Collaboration expected to accelerate affordable access to therapeutics for patients in China and globally

Shanghai, China, November 7, 2020 – Transcenta, a global biotherapeutics company with fully-integrated capabilities in discovery, development and manufacturing of antibody-based therapeutics, and Merck, a leading science and technology company, have announced a strategic technology collaboration to implement continuous manufacturing for protein therapeutics at CIIE.

“To fulfill our mission to deliver high quality and affordable innovative biologics to patients around the world, Transcenta is advancing our highly productive ICB platform for the manufacturing of any protein biologics through process intensification, automation and power of continuous bioprocessing” said Chris Hwang, chief technology officer at Transcenta. “Merck’s BioContinuum™ Platform and broad portfolio make them an ideal collaborative partner to help us accelerate and realize the potential of ICB.”

This unique model of collaboration between Transcenta and Merck brings the teams together in real time to converge single-use, continuous and digital bioprocessing technologies for the further development of Transcenta’s integrated continuous bioprocessing (ICB) platform. As part of the initiative, Transcenta and Merck will co-develop a first-of-its-kind, single-use flow-through polishing system, one of the key elements of Transcenta’s ICB Platform.

The first phase of this multi-year partnership will focus on developing and designing the process technologies, single-use system and automation, while the second phase will focus on an expanded scope of process and digital technologies to optimize a continuous manufacturing process. This highly collaborative relationship leverages Merck’s BioContinuum™ Platform and extensive expertise in continuous processing to help realize Transcenta’s vision to implement fully continuous bioprocessing in GMP manufacturing in China.

“Merck’s commitment and extensive expertise in next-generation manufacturing uniquely positions us to help transform Transcenta’s vision for a fully continuous manufacturing process into a reality,” said Ian Carmichael, vice president and general manager of Bioprocessing, Life Science, at Merck in China. “Our joint effort reflects a shared commitment to advance BioProcessing 4.0 and continuous bioprocessing to accelerate access to health for patients in China and across the world.”

About Merck

Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 57,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2019, Merck generated sales of € 16.2 billion in 66 countries.

Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Performance Materials.